Thats not true...
Yesterday means "any time in the past".. though particularly used for the recent past.
Yestermonth is a word
Yesterweek is a word too
@freemo Well played. I concede the point.
@LouisIngenthron Good debate though, thanks.
@LouisIngenthron @freemo Related fun words:
The day before yesterday is ereyesterday.
The day after tomorrow is overmorrow.
Yesterday evening is yestreen.
@LouisIngenthron
When a definition is considered archaic it is explicitly listed as such.. These are modern idiomys, they just have been around a while. But they were also examples, so that doesnt mean much anyway. When a phrase is archaic it is labeled as such, these are clearly not archaic definitions according to the dictionary.
Thats because as humans we are remarkably good at discerning the definition in use by context.
Here is a non idiomatic usage of this definition:
“No one would wear yesterday’s fashion to the Oscars!”
Not an idiom, clearly not archaic, and used to mean “the recent past” clearly and no one in their right mind would think they ment “the day before today” in this context.