Ci-devant is a French term that has been used in the English language since the 18th century to refer to someone who was formerly something or held a particular title. This term is often used in a historical context to refer to individuals who were once members of the French aristocracy before the French Revolution. Some synonyms for ci-devant include former, prior, past, one-time, and erstwhile. Other more contemporary synonyms for ci-devant could include previous, ex-, and once. Using these synonyms can provide variety in language and can help to add clarity to historical or political writing by avoiding the use of foreign terms.