Crossword Genius

... we slither nervously past (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

erstwhile

'past' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'we slither nervously' is the wordplay.
'nervously' indicates an anagram.
'we'+'slither'='weslither'
'weslither' anagrammed gives 'ERSTWHILE'.

(Other definitions for erstwhile that I've seen before include "Formerly" , "In the past" , "Former, previous" , "Quondam" , "Former - list where (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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