whilom

Whilom is an English word that functions as an adverb meaning formerly, in the past, or once. It is largely archaic in modern usage and is mainly found in historical writing, literary works, and quotations from older texts. As an adjective, it can also describe something that is former or erstwhile, though this use is uncommon today.

The term descends from Old English hwilom, with attestations in medieval texts. It entered Middle English and Early Modern English with the core sense "at a former time." Over time it fell out of standard usage, surviving mainly as a stylistic or period-appropriate element.

In contemporary writing, whilom reads as a deliberate archaism rather than a current term. It may appear in poetry to evoke a bygone era, in historical fiction, or in discussions of old manuscripts. The common synonyms today are erstwhile, formerly, once, and in times past. In attributive phrases, it is possible to encounter "whilom king" or "whilom mistress," though such constructions are unusual outside specialized contexts.

Example sentences can illustrate its effect: "Whilom he ruled the realm" conveys an archaic flavor; in modern prose one would normally replace with "formerly" or "in former times."