Definition of "theretofore" [there•to•fore]

• Until that time; before that. (adverb)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "But Bently, with a light upon his countenance such as theretofore had ne'er been seen on sea or land, suddenly held up his hand."
• "Both candidates insisted their administrations would be models of public integrity, surpassing the rectitude of any government theretofore known to man."
• "“My father served in World War II,” he told the veterans theretofore unaware that Kenyan third graders fought in the big one."