quondam

[kwon-duh m, -dam]

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adjective

former; onetime: his quondam partner.

Origin of quondam

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1580–90

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for quondam

bygone, erstwhile, past, preceding, sometime

Examples from the Web for quondam

Historical Examples of quondam

Do you not recognize my quondam tutor and the once dauntless Meg?
Ernest Linwood
Caroline Lee Hentz
At the peace Washington demanded the return of these quondam slaves.
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 5, 1920
Various
And have you never been detected by any of your quondam associates?
Paul Clifford, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
It appeared that he had been highly popular among his quondam guests.
The Grand Babylon Hotel
Arnold Bennett
However, with the dainty volume my quondam friend sprang into fame.
The Celebrity, Complete
Winston Churchill

British Dictionary definitions for quondam

quondam

adjective

(prenominal) of an earlier time; formerher quondam lover

Word Origin for quondam

C16: from Latin adv: formerly

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

Word Origin and History for quondam

adj.

"one-time, former," 1580s, from earlier use as an adverb ("formerly") and a noun ("former holder" of some office or position), both 1530s, from Latin quondam (adv.) "formerly, at some time, at one time; once in a while," from quom, cum "when, as" (see who) + demonstrative ending -dam.