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whi·lom

(wīləm, hwī-)

adj.

Having once been; former: the whilom editor in chief.

adv.
Archaic

At a past time; formerly.

[Middle English, at times, from Old English hwīlum, dative pl. of hwīl, time, while; see k^weiə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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