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aforetime. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
aforetime, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
aforetime in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
aforetime you have here. The definition of the word
aforetime will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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English
Etymology
From Middle English a fore tyme, afore tyme, aforetyme, afortym, a-for-tyme, afortymez; equivalent to afore- + time.
Adverb
aforetime (not comparable)
- (archaic) In time past; in a former time; formerly.
- Synonym: aforetimes
1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 564:Then I walked about, till I found on the further side, a great river of sweet water, running with a strong current; whereupon I called to mind the boat-raft I had made aforetime and said to myself, "Needs must I make another; haply I may free me from this strait. […] "
Translations
Adjective
aforetime (not comparable)
- (archaic) Former.
1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 212:To him, despite the housekeeper, there was an impropriety in Ursula, the elderly ex-parson, and Andrew living under the one roof - a matter that, for all his aforetime vigilance, had escaped Mr. Civil.