whilom

== English == === Alternative forms === whilome (obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle English whilom (“(adverb) at one time, formerly, once; once upon a time; at times, sometimes; at a future time; (conjunction) while”) [and other forms], from Old English hwīlum, hwīlan, hwīlon (“at one time, once; sometimes”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlum, the dative plural of *hwīlu (“period of time, time, while; period of rest, pause”), from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō (“period of time, time, while; period of rest, pause”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest; peace, rest”). The Oxford English Dictionary regards adverb sense 2.2 (“for some time that has passed”) as “aberrant”. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈwaɪləm/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈwaɪləm/, /ˈʍaɪ-/ Rhymes: -aɪləm Hyphenation: whil‧om === Adverb === whilom (not comparable) (archaic except literary) At some time in the past; formerly, once upon a time. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:formerly (obsolete) At times, on occasion, sometimes. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:occasionally (rare) Preceded by of or this: for some time that has passed. ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === whilom (not comparable) (archaic except literary) At some time in the past; former, sometime. Synonyms: erstwhile, quondam; see also Thesaurus:former (obsolete) Of a person: deceased, late. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:dead ==== Translations ==== === Conjunction === whilom (archaic except UK, dialectal and literary) During the same time that; while. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:while Up to the time that; till, until. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:until ==== Translations ==== === References ===