heretofore

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

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌhɪətəˈfɔː/, /ˌhɪətʊˈfɔː/, /ˌhɪətəˈfɔə/, /ˌhɪətʊˈfɔə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhɪɹtəfɔɹ/, /ˈhɪɹtəfoɹ/

• Audio (US)

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• Hyphenation: here‧to‧fore

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   We now make available these works which were heretofore unpublished.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

• aforementioned