GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

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