Erstwhiles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term referring to a time in the past or once upon a time
2. used to describe an earlier period or a previously existing situation
3. indicating something that was once the case but is no longer true

Etymology: "Erstwhiles" is a plural form of "erstwhile," which is a variant spelling of the same adjective-turned-noun, so the story below applies to both. The word is built from "erst," meaning "first" or "formerly," and "while," meaning a period of time. Together they describe something that belonged to an earlier time and no longer holds. "Erst" is an old word that survives in English mainly in this kind of compound, and it shares its root with "first." The superlative "first" itself was formed from it, so "erst" and "first" are closely related. "While" has meant "time" or "span of time" since Old English, which is why "erstwhile" can be read literally as "former time." The plural "erstwhiles" is used to refer to several former things or people at once, such as "my erstwhiles," meaning former companions or associates.