Formerly, formerly
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">formerly formerly</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for erst that I've seen before include "Rest turned formerly" , "At first; formerly" , "in former times" , "in the past" .)
'formerly formerly' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'formerly formerly' is the wordplay.
'formerly' becomes 'afore' (I've seen this before).
'formerly' becomes 'time' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'afore'+'time'='AFORETIME'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for aforetime that I've seen is " Formerly (archaic)".)