Long Ago' (4 letters) The two crossword solutions for the term IN THE PAST, POETICALLY are ERENOW and 'Long Ago'. ERENOW is an archaic word that was used in the 16th century to mean 'at this present time'. It is derived from the Old English phrase 'er e nu', which translates to 'at this hour'. 'Long Ago' is a phrase that is often used to refer to a time in the distant past. It is often used poetically to evoke a sense of nostalgia or longing for a time that has passed.