Quondam

adv., sb., and a. Also 6 condam. [L., ‘formerly.’]

  A.  adv. At one time, formerly, heretofore, ‘whilome.’ rare.

1537.  Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 63. An Abbott condam of Fountens, of the order of pyed monkes.

1611.  Coryat, Crudities, 648. That … most faithful attendant quondam vppon the right Worshipfull Sir Edward Phillips.

1841.  Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. liii. 162. Mr. C. Jennings quondam of the city hotel in New York.

  † B.  sb. The former holder of some office or position; one who has been deposed or ejected. Obs.

1535.  Lett. Suppress. Monast. (Camden), 93. The kinges fowndation thus to be mangellede by the quondam, I have petie; the prior now is … a goode clerke.

1549.  Latimer, 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 107. Make them quondammes, out with them, cast them out of ther office.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus. (1882), II. 54. Let him be … Jacke out of office, make him a Quondam.

  C.  adj. That formerly was or existed:

  a.  of persons (the most frequent use).

1586.  Warner, Alb. Eng., III. xiv. (1612), 65. In Albanie the quondam King at eldest Daughters Court was setled scarce, when she repynes.

1615.  Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 86. I see thy quondam friend, Hath cause to say his hopes are at an end.

1675.  Cocker, Morals, 47. Quarles, quondam Poet, for rare Lines Divine, Still wares fresh Lawrels, still his Tapers shine.

1728.  Morgan, Algiers, II. ii. 234. This aspiring quondam Consort of his grew apace.

1825.  Bentham, Offic. Apt. Maximized (1830), 13. A quondam country Gentleman with thirty years of … experience.

1874.  Ruskin, Fors Clav., xxxvii. (1874), IV. 3. The loquacious and speculative disposition … of all my quondam friends.

  b.  of things, qualities, etc.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 6. I did conuerse this quondam day with a companion of the kings.

1600.  S. Nicholson, Acolastus (1876), 34. Marke … How euery thing in quondam sort appeares.

1642.  Vicars, God in Mount (1644), 44. The heighth of their quondam pride and cruelty.

1717.  Bp. Nicolson, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. IV. 318. His quondam diocese of Derry.

1795–6.  Wordsw., Borderer, I. 79. The tale of this his quondam Barony Is cunningly devised.

  Hence Quondamly adv., formerly; † Quondamship, the state of being out of office. Obs.

1549.  Latimer, 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 108. As for my quondamshyp I thancke God that he gaue me ye grace to come by it by so honest a meanes as I dyd.

1814.  Sporting Mag., XLIV. 53. Certain gentlemen smiths, who have been quondamly in habits of wearing such articles.