whilom

Meaning

Adv

1. (not-comparable) At some time in the past; formerly, once upon a time.
2. (not-comparable, obsolete) At times, on occasion, sometimes.
3. (not-comparable, obsolete, rare) Preceded by of or this: for some time that has passed.

Adj

1. (not-comparable) At some time in the past; former, sometime.
2. (not-comparable, obsolete) Of a person: deceased, late.

Conj

1. During the same time that; while.
2. Up to the time that; till, until.

Synonyms

former

previous

ci-devant

lang syne

late

formerly

erstwhile

Translations

jadis

άλλοτε

το παλιό καιρο

προ πολού

tard

tardi

una volta

ooit

vorig

tardio

eski

🧓

evvelce

önceleri

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈwaɪləm/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: whilom

Inherited from Old English: hwīlum

Cognate with Old High German: hwīlōn

Cognate with Middle High German: wīlen

Cognate with German: weiland

Cognate with Old Saxon: hwīlon

Cognate with Middle Dutch: wilen

Cognate with Middle Low German: wilen

Cognate with Dutch: wijlen

In summary

From Middle English whilom (“(adverb) at one time, formerly, once; once upon a time; at times, sometimes; at a future time; (conjunction) while”) [and other forms], from Old English hwīlum, hwīlan, hwīlon (“at one time, once; sometimes”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlum, the dative plural of *hwīlu (“period of time, time, while; period of rest, pause”), from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō (“period of time, time, while; period of rest, pause”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest; peace, rest”).
The Oxford English Dictionary regards adverb sense 2.2 (“for some time that has passed”) as “aberrant”.
Cognates
* Old High German hwīlōn (Middle High German wīlen, wīlent, German weiland (“at one time, formerly”))
* Old Saxon hwīlon (“sometimes”) (Middle Dutch wilen, Middle Low German wilen (“at one time, formerly”), Dutch wijlen (“deceased, late”))