Polyglot Dictionary

einst

/aɪ̯nst/

adverb B1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Adv Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Common Domain General Tone Neutral

Meaning

  1. once, formerly (literary)

    A literary alternative to früher or einmal, common in storytelling.

    • Einst lebte hier ein mächtiger König.

      Once, a powerful king lived here.

Similar words

ehemals

Close synonyms for "formerly"; both are literary/formal, used in writing rather than everyday speech.

Similar in other languages

French

autrefois

Close — once, formerly relates to formerly, in the past.

Practice

1 What does einst mean?

2 Fill the gap: ___ lebte hier ein mächtiger König.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches einst?

See also

adverb

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