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. [ 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 ]

☞ 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 ]

adv. 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 ]

☞ Before is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, before-cited, before-mentioned; beforesaid. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Before + hand. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. In a state of anticipation ore preoccupation; in advance; -- often followed by with. [ 1913 Webster ]

Agricola . . . resolves to be beforehand with the danger. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The last cited author has been beforehand with me. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. By way of preparation, or preliminary; previously; aforetime. [ 1913 Webster ]

They may be taught beforehand the skill of speaking. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rich and much beforehand. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Formerly; aforetime. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. 2 Kings xiii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]