Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb Up to the present time; before this; previously.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Before this time; formerly; up to this time.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb Up to this time; hitherto; before; in time past.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb formal Prior to now, until now, up to the present time; from the origin to this point.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English : here, here; see here + tofore, previously (from Old English tōforan : , to; see to + foran, before, from fore; see fore).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English heretoforn, equivalent to here ("here") + toforn ("before"), from Old English toforan ("before"). More at here, tofore.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word heretofore.

Examples

  • Severin's 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer is exquisite, adding considerable lustre to a title heretofore known in this country only through dupey, unsubtitled, bootleg tapes.

    Archive 2006-10-01 2006

  • Severin's 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer is exquisite, adding considerable lustre to a title heretofore known in this country only through dupey, unsubtitled, bootleg tapes.

    MACUMBA SEXUAL: Reign of Tara 2006

  • "The traversers" [4] were in everybody's mouth -- a term heretofore confined to law courts, and lawyers 'rooms.

    The Kellys and the O'Kellys Anthony Trollope 1848

  • She seems nice enough and she's attractive, but her claim to fame heretofore is her role as Lil 'Wayne's baby mama.

    Small wonder 2009

  • She seems nice enough and she's attractive, but her claim to fame heretofore is her role as Lil 'Wayne's baby mama.

    fourfour: 2009

  • The announcement this week that Owen Wilson is about to become a first-time dad by girlfriend Jade Duell -- a name heretofore unknown to the celebrity-media industrial complex -- set off a flurry of fruitless Googling across the country.

    Owen Wilson's babymama Jade Duell is a Beltway girl with an intriguing federal government past The Reliable Source 2011

  • The watchword heretofore on the "Yankee," as on every one of Uncle Sam's ships, had been "Remember the Maine."

    A Gunner Aboard the "Yankee" Russell Doubleday 1910

  • Summer Students of occupying the Dormitories of the University be hereafter limited to the Dormitories, A.B. C. & D. of Dawson's Row and the Dormitories on Carr's Hill, from the 15th of July to the 15th of September, upon the terms heretofore prescribed for the Dormitories generally.

    Board of Visitors minutes 1887

  • Resolved that Professors Davis & Cabell be authorized to continue the employment of Mr Scharf, as artist upon the terms heretofore allowed until the further order of the Board.

    Board of Visitors minutes 1860

  • Observe, The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners heretofore is a proper encouragement to others in after-time to hope in his grace and mercy, and to apply themselves to these.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.