English edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌhɪətəˈfɔː/, /ˌhɪətʊˈfɔː/, /ˌhɪətəˈfɔə/, /ˌhɪətʊˈfɔə/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhɪɹtəfɔɹ/, /ˈhɪɹtəfoɹ/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: here‧to‧fore

Adverb edit

heretofore (not comparable)

  1. (formal, temporal) Before now, until now, up to the present time; from the beginning to this point.
    Synonyms: hitherto; see also Thesaurus:hitherto
    Antonyms: hereafter, henceforth
    We now make available these works which were heretofore unpublished.
    • For quotations using this term, see Citations:heretofore.
    • 1948 September and October, “Railway Literature”, in Railway Magazine, page 351:
      The Permanent Way: Britain's Railroads in the Making. By Horace Greenleaf and G. Tyers. [] There is no doubt that the permanent way has failed heretofore to attract popular interest to an extent comparable with its importance, but possibly the publicity given recently to various forms of experiment is tending to change this.
  2. (metatextual) Previously within the present text; earlier herein.
    Synonym: hereinbefore
    Antonyms: hereafter, henceforth, hereinafter
    Coordinate term: hereinelsewhere
    heretofore referred to as
    heretofore mentioned

Translations edit

See also edit

See also edit

Here-, there-, and where- words