Yesterday

//ˈjɛstədeɪ// adv, noun, slang

Definitions

Adverb
  1. 1
    On the day before today. not-comparable

    "I started to watch the video yesterday, but could only finish it this evening."

  2. 2
    As soon as possible. informal, not-comparable

    "I want this done yesterday!"

Adverb
  1. 1
    on the day preceding today wordnet
  2. 2
    in the recent past; only a short time ago wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    The day immediately before today; one day ago.

    "Today is the child of yesterday and the parent of tomorrow."

  2. 2
    the day immediately before today wordnet
  3. 3
    The past, often in terms of being outdated. figuratively

    "yesterday's technology"

  4. 4
    the recent past wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English yesterday, yisterday, ȝesterdai, ȝisterdai, from Old English ġiestrandæġ, ġister dæġ, ġestor dæġ, ġeostran dæġ (“yesterday”), by surface analysis, yester- + day. Cognate with Scots yisterday, yesterday (“yesterday”), Saterland Frisian jässendeeg, järsendeges (“yesterday”, adverb), West Frisian justerdei (“yesterday”), Dutch gisterdag (“yesterday”), dialectal German gestertag (“yesterday”), Swedish gårdag (“yesterday”), Gothic 𐌲𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍂𐌰𐌳𐌰𐌲𐌹𐍃 (gistradagis, “tomorrow”, adverb). Compare further Dutch gisteren (“yesterday”), German gestern (“yesterday”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English yesterday, yisterday, ȝesterdai, ȝisterdai, from Old English ġiestrandæġ, ġister dæġ, ġestor dæġ, ġeostran dæġ (“yesterday”), by surface analysis, yester- + day. Cognate with Scots yisterday, yesterday (“yesterday”), Saterland Frisian jässendeeg, järsendeges (“yesterday”, adverb), West Frisian justerdei (“yesterday”), Dutch gisterdag (“yesterday”), dialectal German gestertag (“yesterday”), Swedish gårdag (“yesterday”), Gothic 𐌲𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍂𐌰𐌳𐌰𐌲𐌹𐍃 (gistradagis, “tomorrow”, adverb). Compare further Dutch gisteren (“yesterday”), German gestern (“yesterday”).

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