ci-devant

[seeduh-vahn; English see-duh-vahn]

adjective French.

former: used especially in reference to a retired officeholder.

Origin of ci-devant

literally, heretofore

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ci-devant

Historical Examples

He nourished the hope that the ci-devant Vicomte might still be with La Boulaye.
The Trampling of the Lilies
Rafael Sabatini
It was the citizen of hearts replacing the ci-devant knave of hearts.
The Gods are Athirst
Anatole France
He had all the look, there was no denying it, of a ci-devant cleric.
The Gods are Athirst
Anatole France
How ardently he regretted that he had complied with the prayer of the ci-devant!
A Stable for Nightmares
J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Even the ci-devant Ranger inclines to a similar way of thinking.
The Lone Ranche
Captain Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for ci-devant

ci-devant

adjective

(esp of an office-holder) former; recent

Word Origin

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

ci-devant

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}ci-devant

Examples from the Web for ci-devant

Historical Examples

He nourished the hope that the ci-devant Vicomte might still be with La Boulaye.

It was the citizen of hearts replacing the ci-devant knave of hearts.

He had all the look, there was no denying it, of a ci-devant cleric.

How ardently he regretted that he had complied with the prayer of the ci-devant!

Even the ci-devant Ranger inclines to a similar way of thinking.

ci-devant

Word Origin

Origin of ci-devant