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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]
Erst \Erst\ ([~e]rst), adv. [Orig. superlative of ere; AS. [=ae]rest. See Ere.] [Archaic] 1. First. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. Previously; before; formerly; heretofore. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Tityrus, with whose style he had erst disclaimed all ambition to match his pastoral pipe. --A. W. Ward. [1913 Webster] At erst, at first; at the beginning. Now at erst, at this present time. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]
Erst \Erst\ ([~e]rst), adv. [Orig. superlative of ere; AS. [=ae]rest. See Ere.] [Archaic] 1. First. --Chaucer. 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.