かつて・嘗て・曽て・都てkatsute[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. adverb, no-adjectiveonce; before; formerly; ever; former; ex-
   一般いっぱんに日本人にほんじんは、自分じぶんたちがかつてより暮らし向くらしむきがよくなったと考かんがえている。↗

   The Japanese at large consider themselves better off than they used to be.
2. adverb, no-adjectivenever yet; never before; first time; still not happenedused with neg. verb

• Synonym以前いぜんNeutralThe most general word for 'before, previously'; works as a noun or adverb. 「嘗て」 leans written and can also take a negative to mean 'never'.
• Related先にさきにNeutralPoints to something earlier, as in 「先に述べた通り」, with everyday uses like 「先に行って」; 「嘗て」 refers to a period in the past.
• RelatedかねてWrittenMeans 'for some time already', as in 「予てからの夢」, with a formal tone; 「嘗て」 stresses that something was once the case.
• RelatedいつぞやNeutralRefers to some vague time in the past, as in 「いつぞやはどうも」, mostly in greetings; 「嘗て」 is more written and can also mean 'never'.
• RelatedこれまでにNeutralMeans 'up to now, so far'; 「嘗て」 refers to a time in the past, or with a negative, 'never'.
• Antonym将来しょうらいNeutralSits opposite 「嘗て」 on the timeline: it points to the future.

Use 「嘗て」 for 'once, formerly' or, with a negative, 'never', as in 「嘗てない規模」; it leans written. For plain 'before' pick 「以前」, for 'for some time already' 「予て」, for 'up to now' 「これまで」; the antonym is 「将来」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 今いまより前まえの一時期いちじき。
2. 否定ひていを伴ともなって今いままでに一度いちどもなかったことを表あらわす。
3. 否定ひていを伴ともなって全まったくもってそうではなかったことを表あらわす。