HERETOFORE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does heretofore mean? 

• HERETOFORE (adverb)
  The adverb HERETOFORE has 1 sense:

1. used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

  Familiarity information: HERETOFORE used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HERETOFORE (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

Synonyms:

as yet; heretofore; hitherto; so far; thus far; til now; until now; up to now; yet

Context example:

the sun isn't up yet

 Context examples 

How much of him was saint, how much mortal, I could not heretofore tell: but revelations were being made in this conference: the analysis of his nature was proceeding before my eyes.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

And all this by such a man as General Tilney, so polite, so well bred, and heretofore so particularly fond of her!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Very well—and as Randalls, I suppose, is not likely to have less influence than heretofore, it strikes me as a possible thing, Emma, that Henry and John may be sometimes in the way.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

It informed me of her husband's hopeless state, and hinted at his being “a little nearer” than heretofore, and consequently more difficult to manage for his own comfort.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The time was now come when Sir Thomas expected his sister-in-law to claim her share in their niece, the change in Mrs. Norris's situation, and the improvement in Fanny's age, seeming not merely to do away any former objection to their living together, but even to give it the most decided eligibility; and as his own circumstances were rendered less fair than heretofore, by some recent losses on his West India estate, in addition to his eldest son's extravagance, it became not undesirable to himself to be relieved from the expense of her support, and the obligation of her future provision.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Miss Bingley was very deeply mortified by Darcy's marriage; but as she thought it advisable to retain the right of visiting at Pemberley, she dropt all her resentment; was fonder than ever of Georgiana, almost as attentive to Darcy as heretofore, and paid off every arrear of civility to Elizabeth.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Jo spoke hopefully, but could not rid herself of the foreboding fear that this 'little trial' would be harder than the others, and that Laurie would not get over his 'lovelornity' as easily as heretofore.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Neglect it—go on as heretofore, craving, whining, and idling—and suffer the results of your idiocy, however bad and insuperable they may be.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Henry's astonishing generosity and nobleness of conduct, in never alluding in the slightest way to what had passed, was of the greatest assistance to her; and sooner than she could have supposed it possible in the beginning of her distress, her spirits became absolutely comfortable, and capable, as heretofore, of continual improvement by anything he said.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

It had heretofore been my habit always to shrink from arrogance: received as I had been to-day, I should, a year ago, have resolved to quit Gateshead the very next morning; now, it was disclosed to me all at once that that would be a foolish plan.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)