erst

[urst] /ɜrst/
adverb, Archaic.
1.
before the present time; formerly.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English erest, Old English ǣrest (cognate with Old High German ērist, German erst), equivalent to ǣr ere + -est -est1
Examples from the web for erst
  • erst-order mode is also commonly referred to as the fundamental mode.
British Dictionary definitions for erst

erst

/ɜːst/
adverb (archaic)
1.
long ago; formerly
2.
at first
Word Origin
Old English ǣrest earliest, superlative of ǣr early; see ere; related to Old High German ērist, Dutch eerst