Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

whilom

American  
[hwahy-luhm, wahy-] / ˈʰwaɪ ləm, ˈwaɪ- /

adjective

  1. former; erstwhile.

    whilom friends.


adverb

  1. at one time.

whilom British  
/ ˈwaɪləm /

adverb

  1. formerly; once

"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

adjective

  1. (prenominal) one-time; former

"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

Etymology

Origin of whilom

before 900; Middle English; Old English hwīlum at times, dative plural of hwīl while (noun)


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

For some time the Russian Soviet Government has had as its Minister to Poland whilom aristocratic Prince Obolensky.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Doom, Holland, last week, Germany's whilom All Highest War Lord, Wilhelm II, spread staff maps of Manchuria on long tables and had fun sticking them with colored pushpins.

From Time Magazine Archive

One question was whether he had given money to Albert Bacon Fall, whilom Secretary of the Interior.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Hear, hear," interposed Lord Birkenhead, whilom "Galloper Smith."

From Time Magazine Archive

Thus it naturally came about that the whilom bound boy and his former master ran up against each other only a few days after the arrival of the latter in the nation's capital.

From The Heatherford Fortune a sequel to the Magic Cameo by Mrs. Georgie Sheldon

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com