'Erst' definitions:
Definition of 'erst'
(from WordNet)
adverb
At a previous time; "at one time he loved her"; "her erstwhile writing"; "she was a dancer once"; [syn: once, formerly, at one time, erstwhile, erst]
Definition of 'Erst'
From: GCIDE
- Erst \Erst\ ([~e]rst), adv. [Orig. superlative of ere; AS. [=ae]rest. See Ere.] [Archaic]
- 1. First. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Previously; before; formerly; heretofore. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- Tityrus, with whose style he had erst disclaimed all ambition to match his pastoral pipe. --A. W. Ward. [1913 Webster]
- At erst, at first; at the beginning.
- Now at erst, at this present time. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]