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Vinony

erst

adverb

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L333562 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɝst/ / /ɜːst/

adj

Etymology: 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”).

  1. First.

adv

Etymology: 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”).

  1. First of all, before (some other specified thing).

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

  2. Sooner (than); before.

    “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. Formerly, once, erstwhile.

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