beforetime

[ bih-fawr-tahym, -fohr- ]

/ bɪˈfɔrˌtaɪm, -ˈfoʊr- /

formerly.

Origin of beforetime

First recorded in 1250–1300, beforetime is from the Middle English word bifor time. See before, time

It was said beforetime that if a sword be the death of five score of men, it comes to be possessed of a lust for slaying.

The Thirsty Sword |Robert Leighton
One or two friends whose professions had beforetime been profuse, Eleanor met.

The History Of The Last Trial By Jury For Atheism In England |George Jacob Holyoake
Beforetime, to serve the king was to serve the Clan of the Priests, from which he had been chosen, and whose head he constituted.

The Lost Continent |C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne
I knew that where beforetime he was wont to have forty great sails, at the least, in his ports, now he hath not past six or seven.

Raleigh |Edmund Gosse

Would you have believed that I was bribed, my prince, had it not chanced that you had heard of the sword from me beforetime?

King Olaf's Kinsman |Charles Whistler

beforetime

/ (bɪˈfɔːˌtaɪm) /

archaic formerly