ERST

erst. Erst, ad. when time was, at first, formerly, once

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Erst (ẽrst), adv. [[Orig. superlative of ere; AS. ǣrest. See Ere.]] 1. 1. First. Chaucer.
2. 2. Previously; before; formerly; heretofore. Chaucer.
Tityrus, with whose style he had erst disclaimed all ambition to match his pastoral pipe. A. W. Ward. At erst, at first; at the beginning. — Now at erst, at this present time. Chaucer.