before
AdverbWordNet 3.0
Adverb (2)
- 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”Synonyms: earlier
- 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”Synonyms: aheadin front
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
1.In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house. [1913 Webster]
His angel, who shall go Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
2.Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that. [1913 Webster]
Before Abraham was, I am.— John viii. 58.[1913 Webster]
Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.— Swift.[1913 Webster]
Note: Formerly before, in this sense, was followed by that. "Before that Philip called thee . . . I saw thee." --John i. 48. [1913 Webster]
3.An advance of; farther onward, in place or time. [1913 Webster]
The golden age . . . is before us.— Carlyle.[1913 Webster]
4.Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than. [1913 Webster]
He that cometh after me is preferred before me.— John i. 15.[1913 Webster]
The eldest son is before the younger in succession.— Johnson.[1913 Webster]
5.In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing. [1913 Webster]
Abraham bowed down himself before the people.— Gen. xxiii. 12.[1913 Webster]
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?— Micah vi. 6.[1913 Webster]
6.Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of. [1913 Webster]
If a suit be begun before an archdeacon.— Ayliffe.[1913 Webster]
7.Open for; free of access to; in the power of. [1913 Webster]
The world was all before them where to choose.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
1.On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; -- opposed to in the rear. [1913 Webster]
The battle was before and behind.— 2 Chron. xiii. 14.[1913 Webster]
2.In advance. "I come before to tell you." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3.In time past; previously; already. [1913 Webster]
You tell me, mother, what I knew before.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
4.Earlier; sooner than; until then. [1913 Webster]
When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
Note: Before is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, before-cited, before-mentioned; beforesaid. [1913 Webster]