whilom

English

Etymology

Old English hwīlum, dative plural of hwīl ‘while’.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈwaɪləm/, /ˈʍaɪləm/

Adverb

whilom (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) While.
2. (dated) Once upon a time, formerly.
   • 1603, John Florio, trans. Michel de Montaigne, Essays, I.43:

     With such an invention did Zeleucus whilome correct the corrupted manners of the Locrines.

   • 1663, Hudibras, by Samuel Butler, part 1, canto 1

     In northern clime a val'rous knight \ Did whilom kill his bear in fight, \ And wound a fiddler: we have both \ Of these the objects of our wroth [...]

Translations

once upon a time, formerly

• Russian: некогда (ru) (nékogda), когда-то (ru) (kogdá-to)

Adjective

whilom

1. (now literary) Former; sometime, late.

Conjunction

whilom

1. While.