erstwhile
/ˈɜːstwaɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɜːrstwaɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈərst-ˌ(h)wī(-ə)l/ (ame, mw)
erstwhile — adjective
- erstwhilepositive
- erstwhilercomparative
- erstwhilestsuperlative
1. used before a noun to describe a person, place, role, or arrangement that belong
used before a noun to describe a person, place, role, or arrangement that belonged to an earlier period but no longer has that position now.
Ayesha met her erstwhile business partner at the station cafe.
erstwhile + noun for a former relationship
The museum reopened its erstwhile library as a room for children.
Omar thanked his erstwhile coach for years of patient advice.
Workers returned to the erstwhile factory site for a history tour.
文法句型
erstwhile + noun
用法筆記
Used almost entirely in formal or literary writing, usually before nouns for past roles, relationships, or institutions. In everyday English, 'former' is normally the more natural choice.
常見錯誤
erstwhile — adverb
1. at an earlier time; formerly, especially in a literary or old-fashioned style.
at an earlier time; formerly, especially in a literary or old-fashioned style.
Erstwhile, this street ended at a muddy field outside town.
sentence adverb meaning formerly or at an earlier time
The house now holds offices, but erstwhile it was home to farmers.
Christopher sells coffee there, though erstwhile he repaired bicycles instead.
The river looks calm now, yet erstwhile it flooded every spring.
- formerly
the standard formal adverb in modern English
- once
more common and less literary for a past state or role
- previously
neutral and common in factual or procedural writing
文法句型
erstwhile + clause
erstwhile + verb phrase
用法筆記
This adverb is rare in modern everyday English and is mainly found in literary, historical, or highly formal writing. In normal conversation, speakers usually choose 'formerly', 'once', or 'in the past' instead.