ci-devant

[ seeduh-vahn; English see-duh-vahn ]
/ sidəˈvɑ̃; English ˌsi dəˈvɑ̃ /

adjective French.

former: used especially in reference to a retired officeholder.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?
Question 1 of 10
earnest
full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.
a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.
urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.
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Origin of ci-devant

literally, heretofore

Words nearby ci-devant

chérie, chārikār, chŏngjin, chŏnju, ci, ci-devant, cia, cia., ciabatta, ciano, ciao
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for ci-devant

British Dictionary definitions for ci-devant

ci-devant
/ French (sidəvɑ̃) /

adjective

(esp of an office-holder) former; recent

Word Origin for ci-devant

literally: heretofore
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012