Once in a way shaping? (8)

I believe the answer is:

formerly

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'once' is the definition.
(I know that once can be written as formerly)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for formerly that I've seen before include "Hitherto" , "At one time" , "In the past" , "Previously, before this time" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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