Erst /(ẽrst)/

Erst

adv.
  1. First. [Archaic]
  2. Previously; before; formerly; heretofore.
    Tityrus, with whose style he had erst disclaimed all ambition to match his pastoral pipe.
    — A. W. Ward.

Phrases & Compounds
At erst
at first; at the beginning.
Now at erst
at this present time.