erst

Erst, adv. Etym: [Orig. superlative of ere; AS. . See Ere.] [Archaic] 1. First. Chaucer. 2. Previously; before; formerly; heretofore. Chaucer. Tityrus, with whose style he had erst disclaimed all ambition to match his pastoral pipe. A. W. Ward. At erst, at first; at the beginning. -- Now at erst, at this present time. Chaucer.

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