Erst

//ɝst// adj, adv

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    First. not-comparable, obsolete
Adverb
  1. 1
    First of all, before (some other specified thing). not-comparable, obsolete

    "Consider what I erst have been and what thou seest me now:"

  2. 2
    Sooner (than); before. not-comparable, obsolete

    "Thenne he sente the varlet ageyne and bad hym telle Kyng Mark that I wille come as soone as I am hole / for erste I maye doo hym noo good "Then he sent the varlet again, and bade him: Tell King Mark that I will come as soon as I am whole, for erst I may do him no good. ""

  3. 3
    Formerly, once, erstwhile. archaic, not-comparable, poetic

    "When lofty trees I see barren of leaves Which erst from heat did canopy the herd"

Adverb
  1. 1
    at a previous time wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English erste, from Old English ǣresta (“first”), from Proto-West Germanic *airist (“earliest, first”), equivalent to ere + -est. Cognate with North Frisian iarst, iáárs, jarst, jest (“first”), West Frisian earst (“first”), Dutch eerste (“first”), German erste (“first”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English erste, from Old English ǣresta (“first”), from Proto-West Germanic *airist (“earliest, first”), equivalent to ere + -est. Cognate with North Frisian iarst, iáárs, jarst, jest (“first”), West Frisian earst (“first”), Dutch eerste (“first”), German erste (“first”).

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