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before


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Before  \Be*fore"\,  prep.  [OE.  beforen  biforen  before  AS 
  beforan  pref.  be-  +  foran,  fore,  before  See  {Be-},  and 
  {Fore}.] 
  1.  In  front  of  preceding  in  space;  ahead  of  as  to  stand 
  before  the  fire;  before  the  house. 
 
  His  angel,  who  shall  go  Before  them  in  a  cloud  and 
  pillar  of  fire.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  Preceding  in  time;  earlier  than  previously  to  anterior 
  to  the  time  when  --  sometimes  with  the  additional  idea  of 
  purpose;  in  order  that 
 
  Before  Abraham  was  I  am  --John  viii. 
  58. 
 
  Before  this  treatise  can  become  of  use  two  points 
  are  necessary.  --Swift. 
 
  Note:  Formerly  before  in  this  sense  was  followed  by  that 
  ``Before  that  Philip  called  thee  .  .  .  I  saw  thee.'' 
  --John  i.  48. 
 
  3.  An  advance  of  farther  onward,  in  place  or  time. 
 
  The  golden  age  .  .  .  is  before  us  --Carlyle. 
 
  4.  Prior  or  preceding  in  dignity,  order  rank,  right  or 
  worth;  rather  than 
 
  He  that  cometh  after  me  is  preferred  before  me 
  --John  i.  15. 
 
  The  eldest  son  is  before  the  younger  in  succession. 
  --Johnson. 
 
  5.  In  presence  or  sight  of  face  to  face  with  facing. 
 
  Abraham  bowed  down  himself  before  the  people.  --Gen. 
  xxiii.  12. 
 
  Wherewith  shall  I  come  before  the  Lord?  --Micah  vi 
  6. 
 
  6.  Under  the  cognizance  or  jurisdiction  of 
 
  If  a  suit  be  begun  before  an  archdeacon.  --Ayliffe. 
 
  7.  Open  for  free  of  access  to  in  the  power  of 
 
  The  world  was  all  before  them  where  to  choose 
  --Milton. 
 
  {Before  the  mast}  (Naut.),  as  a  common  sailor,  --  because  the 
  sailors  live  in  the  forecastle,  forward  of  the  foremast. 
 
 
  {Before  the  wind}  (Naut.),  in  the  direction  of  the  wind  and 
  by  its  impulse;  having  the  wind  aft. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Before  \Be*fore"\,  adv 
  1.  On  the  fore  part  in  front,  or  in  the  direction  of  the 
  front;  --  opposed  to  {in  the  rear}. 
 
  The  battle  was  before  and  behind.  --2  Chron. 
  xiii.  14. 
 
  2.  In  advance.  ``I  come  before  to  tell  you.''  --Shak. 
 
  3.  In  time  past;  previously;  already. 
 
  You  tell  me  mother,  what  I  knew  before  --Dryden. 
 
  4.  Earlier;  sooner  than  until  then. 
 
  When  the  butt  is  out  we  will  drink  water;  not  a 
  drop  before  --Shak. 
 
  Note:  Before  is  often  used  in  self-explaining  compounds;  as 
  before-cited,  before-mentioned;  beforesaid 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  before 
  adv  1:  earlier  in  time;  previously;  "I  had  known  her  before";  "as  I 
  said  before";  "he  called  me  the  day  before  but  your 
  call  had  come  even  earlier";  "her  parents  had  died 
  four  years  earlier";  "I  mentioned  that  problem 
  earlier"  [syn:  {earlier}] 
  2:  at  or  in  the  front;  "I  see  the  lights  of  a  town  ahead";  "the 
  road  ahead  is  foggy";  "staring  straight  ahead";  "we 
  couldn't  see  over  the  heads  of  the  people  in  front";  "with 
  the  cross  of  Jesus  marching  on  before"  [syn:  {ahead},  {in 
  front}] 




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