Yesterday
Yesterday , noun
[Old English yisterdai, Anglo-Saxon geostran dag, from geostran, geostra, giestran, gistran, gystran, yesterday (akin to Dutch gisteren, German gestern, Old High German gestaron, Icelandic gar yesterday, to-morrow, Gothic gistradagis to-morrow, Latin heri yesterday, Greek {not transcribed}, Sanskrit hyas) + dag day. Compare Hestern. {not transcribed}.]
1.
The day last past; the day next before the present.
All our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.
We are but of yesterday, and know nothing.
2.
Figuratively: A recent time; time not long past.
The proudest royal houses are but of yesterday, when compared with the line of supreme pontiffs.
Yesterday , adverb
On the day last past; on the day preceding to-day; as, the affair took place yesterday.