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