In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
ERSTWHILE
once, formerly, at one time, erstwhile, erst
(adverb) at a previous time; “at one time he loved her”; “her erstwhile writing”; “she was a dancer once”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adverb
erstwhile (not comparable)
Formerly; in the past.
Synonyms
• erewhile
Adjective
erstwhile (not comparable)
(literary, legal) Former, previous.
Synonyms: former, once, previous, quondam, onetime, Thesaurus:former
(proscribed) Respected, honourable.
Usage notes
The use of erstwhile to mean “respected” stems from a conflation with esteemed in phrases such as erstwhile colleague and is proscribed by most authorities.
Anagrams
• wehrlites
Source: Wiktionary
Erst`while", adv.
Definition: Till then or now; heretofore; formerly. [Archaic]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
23 June 2025
PEOPLE
(noun) members of a family line; “his people have been farmers for generations”; “are your people still alive?”
Coffee Trivia
