Word: erstwhile (adjective, adverb)

Associations

"Erstwhile" means "former" or "in the past." It is used to describe something or someone that was once in a particular state or role but is not anymore.

• Example 1: "He is her erstwhile friend." This means he was her friend before, but not now.
• Example 2: "The erstwhile capital of the country is now a small town." This means the city used to be the capital but isn't anymore.
• Example 3: "They are erstwhile partners in business." This means they used to be business partners but no longer are.

A well-known synonym is "former." The difference is that "erstwhile" sounds more formal or old-fashioned, while "former" is more common in everyday speech.

Substitution

You can often replace "erstwhile" with:

• former (more common)
• one-time (more informal)
• previous (similar meaning, but more often used with time or events)

Example: "His erstwhile colleague" → "His former colleague."

Deconstruction

"Erstwhile" comes from two old English words:

• "erst" meaning "formerly" or "once"
• "while" meaning "a period of time" Together, it means "at a time in the past."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a person or thing in your life that is "erstwhile" now? For example, a friend you no longer see.
• How would you use "erstwhile" in a sentence about a place or event?
• Do you notice any difference in tone when using "erstwhile" compared to "former"? Which sounds more formal or poetic?