whilom

1 of 2

adverb

whi·​lom ˈ(h)wī-ləm 

archaic

: formerly

whilom

2 of 2

adjective

: former

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Take the Time to Learn About Whilom

Whilom shares an ancestor with the word while. Both trace back to the Old English word hwīl, meaning "time" or "while." In Old English hwīlum was an adverb meaning "at times." This use passed into Middle English (with a variety of spellings, one of which was whilom), and in the 12th century the word acquired the meaning "formerly." The adverb's usage dwindled toward the end of the 19th century, and it has since been labeled archaic. The adjective first appeared on the scene in the 15th century, with the now-obsolete meaning "deceased," and by the 19th century it was being used with the meaning "former." It's a relatively uncommon word, but it does see occasional use.

Synonyms

Adjective

• erstwhile
• former
• late
• old
• once
• onetime
• other
• past
• quondam
• sometime

Examples of whilom in a Sentence

Adjective

pointedly ignored the whilom friends who had turned on her

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, literally, at times, from Old English hwīlum, dative plural of hwīl time, while

First Known Use

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

whilom

1 of 2 adverb

whi·​lom ˈhwī-ləm 

ˈwī-

archaic

: formerly

whilom

2 of 2 adjective

: former

your whilom friends