foretime

American  

[fawr-tahym, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌtaɪm, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

1. former or past time; the past.

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foretime British  

/ ˈfɔːˌtaɪm /

noun

1. time already gone; the past

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Etymology

Origin of foretime

First recorded in 1530–40; fore- + time

Example Sentences

The privileged aristocracies of the foretime, with all their iniquities, did at least preserve some taste for higher human quality and honor certain forms of refinement by their enduring traditions.

From English Prose A Series of Related Essays for the Discussion and Practice by Roe, Frederick William

Whatever might be the feigned facts of the Grecian foretime, they were altogether outdone in antiquity and wonder by the actual history of Egypt.

From History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume I (of 2) Revised Edition by Draper, John William

So he sat and sang, like unto a seer out of the foretime to look upon; Jeremiah, the Ancient, seemed to have risen out of his grave.

From Selections from the Prose Works of Matthew Arnold by Johnson, William Savage

Vast was the buried and antique lore that was his, for the foretime Made him master of earlier customs as well as of newer.

From Studies in the Poetry of Italy, I. Roman by Miller, Frank Justus

And this is the prophecy, written right bold On a parchment all tattered and yellow and old; So old and so tattered that nobody knows How far into foretime its origin goes.

From The Glugs of Gosh by Dennis, C. J. (Clarence James)