English Explanatory Dictionary

erst

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. First.
adv
  1. First of all, before (some other specified thing).
  2. Sooner (than); before.
  3. Formerly, once, erstwhile.

Pronunciation

/ɝst/ /ɜːst/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-erst.wav

Word forms

erst arste yerst

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”).

Derived words

erstwhile
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