prep. [ OE. beforen, biforen, before, AS. beforan; pref. be- + foran, fore, before. See Be-, and Fore. ]
His angel, who shall go
Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire. Milton. [ 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 ]
The golden age . . . is before us. Carlyle. [ 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 ]
Abraham bowed down himself before the people. Gen. xxiii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord? Micah vi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]
If a suit be begun before an archdeacon. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]
The world was all before them where to choose. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Before the mast (Naut.),
Before the wind (Naut.),
adv.
The battle was before and behind. 2 Chron. xiii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]
You tell me, mother, what I knew before. Dryden. [ 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 ]
Agricola . . . resolves to be beforehand with the danger. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
The last cited author has been beforehand with me. Addison. [ 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 ]