| 释义 |
beforeadv.prep.conj.n. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Middle Dutch bevoren (adverb) earlier, (preposition) in preference to (Dutch †bevoren (adverb) earlier), Old Saxon biforan (adverb) in front, ahead, in the presence of, in advance, beforehand, (preposition) in the face of, in the presence of (Middle Low German bevȫren , adverb) < the Germanic base of be- prefix + the Germanic base of forne adv. In β. forms probably originally showing loss of the nasal in the last syllable, although in later use probably also influenced by fore adv. Compare Old Frisian bifara (adverb) earlier, (preposition) in front of, Middle Low German bevȫr (adverb) earlier, Old High German bifora , before (adverb) earlier (Middle High German bevōr (adverb) also in spatial senses ‘in front, ahead’, German bevor also as conjunction). These may show parallel formations < the Germanic base of be- prefix + the Germanic base of fore adv. Middle High German bevorn , bevorne (adverb and preposition) perhaps shows alteration of bevōr after vorn , vorne in front of (see forne adv.). Compare afore adv., fore adv., tofore adv. With use as preposition compare afore prep., atfore prep., fore prep., tofore prep.Semantic history and function. In Old English the word occurs as adverb and preposition (construed either with the dative or with the accusative). The word also occurs as preposition in postmodifying position, especially after personal pronouns; compare e.g.: OE Blickling Homilies 15 Þa sæt þær sum blind þearfa be ðon wege, & gehyrde myccle menigo him beforan feran.Use as first element in compounds can be difficult to distinguish from use as preposition in postmodifying position or adverb; compare the uses at Compounds 3 and the discussion at after adv., prep., and conj. In use as preposition the word has superseded for prep. in some of its senses (compare for prep. I.); compare also the many compounds (chiefly at Compounds 3) with parallel formations in fore- prefix. With use as conjunction compare Old English (rare) tōforan þām with dative singular neuter of that pron.1 (see quot. OE at sense C. 1a, and compare tofore conj. a). The usual conjunction in Old English is ǣr ere conj. In Old English, beforan as adverb frequently occurs in collocation with ǣr ere adv.1 (see sense A. 5), but is apparently not attested with ǣr in use as conjunction; compare the later use at sense C. 1b. Note on forms. In early use frequently written as two words. (Word division in Old English and Middle English examples below often reflects the editorial choices of modern editors of texts, rather than the practice of the manuscripts.) A. adv. I. Of sequence in space. Now somewhat archaic. 1. Of place, position, or direction. Frequently contrasted with behind. the world > space > relative position > front > [adverb] the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in forward direction OE Wulfstan (Hatton 113) (1957) 179 Se sacerd smyreð mid þam halgan crisman breost & sculdran..þæt deofol ne mæg ænig his ættrenra wæpna him on afæstnian, naðor ne beforan ne wiðæftan. c1225 (?OE) (Worcester) (Fragm. G) l. 39 Bihinden and biuoren feire þu were imerked heie on þine heafde [mid þ]en holie ele. c1390 in C. Brown (1924) 154 Þe peynted word þat fel biforen, Be-hynde, hit is anoþer hewe. 1420 in F. J. Furnivall (1882) 53 A habirgoun of Mylen, opyn be-for. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) (1859) iv. xxxviii. 64 Full of eyen byfore and behynd. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. cliii. 183 Bare a starre on his bonet and on his mantell before. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. ii. 55 His horse..neere leg'd before . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. xi. 12 Had he his hurts before ? View more context for this quotation 1646 Sir T. Browne iii. xix. 154 When they looke intently they turne one eye upon the object, and can convert their heads to see before and behinde. 1722 No. 6088/3 Has lost a Tooth before. 1792 ‘A. Pasquin’ (rev. ed.) i. 43 Her vests mend her frame, as the harp tunes the wind; She is manteau'd fallacious before and behind. 1842 May 121/1 You have the best disposed, best tempered audience to curtsey to I ever stood before. 1889 Jan. 469/1 But this same exposed ground now lay before, and must be crossed by our own men, under a galling fire from a strong and protected position. 1931 K. M. Smith xi. 179 There is a characteristic anchor process, consisting of a long and slender stem surmounted by a head twice as broad as long, rounded before and behind with the greatest length in the middle. 1999 K. Oddenino 134 The symbol of the beast with eyes before and behind. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Philipp. iii. 13 Y forȝete tho thingis that ben bihyndis, and [stretche] forth..to tho thingis that ben bifore. 1598 F. Meres tr. Luis de Granada xxiv. 257 If it [sc. the soul] looke before, it beholdeth the infinite space of eternity, which expecteth it. 1600 P. Holland in tr. Livy 2nd Index, sig. Eeeeeeiiij He should be a person accomplished, & as well to looke before as behind. 1800 No. 6. 213 But cheer up friends, and look before; Go back's as tedious as go o'er. 1820 P. B. Shelley To Skylark in 205 We look before and after, And pine for what is not. 1850 H. Bushnell 30 But it is the compact, impenetrable matter of much manhood, the compressed energy of good sense and public reason, having power to see before and after, and measure action by counsel—this it is that walls about the strength and liberty of a people. 1901 16 p. xvi When it is recalled that this is the first meeting of our Association in the new century,..one is tempted to cast a look before and after. 2011 W. W. Wiersbe 110 God not only sees what lies before but plans what will take place. the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [adverb] eOE tr. Orosius (BL Add.) (1980) i. x. 28 Uesoges, Egypta cyning,..his ærendracan beforan asende to þære ðeode [L. missis prius legatis]. OE (2008) 1412 He feara sum beforan gengde wisra monna wong sceawian. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 41 (MED) Mihhal eode bi-foren and paul com efter. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 3194 Bi-fore went william & after-ward þe quene. c1450 (a1400) Chevalere Assigne l. 322 in W. H. French & C. B. Hale (1930) 871 Euur Feraunnce byforne and þat other aftur. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) x. 245 Thai that war went furth beforn. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden i. 3 Nor Twins, the horned Bull of Crete, untimely go beforn. 1736 S. Clarke (ed. 7) II. 196 He ran before, and climb'd up into a Tree at the side of the road. 1770 Dec. 204/1 At length both the gentlemen yielded to his intreaties, and he walked before to shew them the way. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in 46 Not at my side! I charge you ride before, Ever a good way on before. 1902 C. B. Tinker tr. ii. 71 He, with a few prudent men, went on before to view the spot. 1944 June 5/2 Wherever Jimmie walked, arrowheads ran before... But not once could he catch up with the wheels that printed them. 1978 M. S. Peck i. 58 We can lead only insofar as we go before. †3. eOE (Kentish) (Vesp. D.vi) 44 Ic unriht min eal oncwawe [read oncnawe], and eac synna gehwær selfum æt eagan, firendeda geðrec beforan standeð, scelda scinað [L. delictum meum coram me est semper]. OE 485 Wæs se atola beforan, se inc bam [sc. Adam and Eve] forgeaf balewe geþohtas. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) l. 1326 (MED) His owhen liif he hadde for-lore, No hadde goddes help ben bifore. society > communication > manifestation > manifestness > openness or unconcealedness > [adverb] OE (1932) 606 Miht ðu me gesecgan..hwæðer wealdend þin wundor on eorðan..folcum to frofre beforan cyðde. OE 5 Eorl oðerne..mid teonwordum tæleð behindan, spreceð fægere beforan. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 143 (MED) Þe þet spekeð faire bi-foren and false bi-hinden. a1300 (?c1200) (Jesus Oxf.) (1955) 95 (MED) By-fore he þe meneþ, by-hynde he þe teleþ. 1606 J. Marston sig. C4v Liue to grow blind with lust, sencelesse with vse, loathed after, flattered before, hated alwaies. 1855 R. C. Trench 166 The Italians have a proverb: ‘Who flatters me before, spatters me behind’. 1883 31 Jan. 3/1 An Italian proverb runs thus, ‘Who flatters me before, spatters me behind.’ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being better or superior > [adverb] OE tr. Bede (Corpus Cambr.) iii. xiv. 208 [Þ]yssum tidum Eastengla rice æfter Eorpwalde..Siebryht his broðor beforan wæs [eOE Tanner fore wæs, L. praefuit]. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. i. 26 Make we man to..oure lycknes, & before be he [man] to þe fisches of þe see [L. praesit piscibus maris]. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xxiii. l. 23 For is no vertue by-fore to spiritus temperancie [v.rr. to-fore, by ȝer, by fer, be ver, so fair as; B text by fer to]. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 574 Algate he wayted so in his achaat That he was ay biforn and in good staat. a1425 (a1400) Titus & Vespasian l. 2015 in (1904) 112 34/2 (MED) Þou schalt be so wel byforn Of men, of vitaylles and of corn. c1475 Proverbs (Rawl. D.328) in (1940) 38 117 (MED) Qui non precessor valet esse, sit ille secutor. He þat maynot goo be-fore moste goye be-hind. II. Of sequence in time or order. 5. a. In the time preceding that in question, previously to that or this, earlier, sooner. Hence: beforehand; already, in the past. In Old English frequently in collocation with ere adv.1the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adverb] eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius (Otho) (2009) I. xxxii. 536 Genog cuð me is þæt God hit wat eall beforan, ge good ge yfel, ær hit geweorðe. OE Cynewulf 468 Hæfde þa gefylled, swa ær biforan sungon, witgena word geond woruld innan þurh his þrowinga. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 176 For þi mine leoue sustren beoð bifor warre. 1340 (1866) 219 Ase ich habbe beuore yzed. 1477 Earl Rivers tr. (Caxton) (1877) lf. 1v Whyche book I had neuer seen before. a1513 H. Bradshaw (1521) i. x. sig. c.viiiv As our mother sayd, to the byforne. 1560 329 And shall kepe the examinacons in their custodie till pubplicacon be graunted, after which tyme (and not before) they shall make out the sayd coppies. 1609 W. Shakespeare xl. sig. D What hast thou then more then thou hadst before ? View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. ii. 2 When the But is out we will drinke water, not a drop before . View more context for this quotation 1766 O. Goldsmith I. ix. 84 The conversation at this time was more reserved than before. 1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere v, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge 31 The Marineres all return'd to work As silent as beforne. 1840 23 May 305/1 Continue the medicines as before, with the porter and brandy and water. 1885 E. Lynn Linton III. vi. 194 Perhaps on a second trial things would come more right than before. 1915 D. H. Lawrence vii. 191 Before, he had thought them absolute. 1951 H. Hastings Seagulls over Sorrento in IV. 75 You'd better write out a request... You know the routine... Requestmen is at 0900 tomorrow morning and not before! 1998 21 Mar. 122/1 The economy will grow at the same rate as before. OE 225 Þes eadiga wer miccle ær beforan [L. longe ante] þone dæg wiste his forðfore, & him drihten þæt gecyþed hæfde.] c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 9133 Roberd..let þat lif Aboute þre ȝer biuore. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 8523 Dauid..spak..O cristes birth sua lang be-forn. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Ellesmere) (1877) §827 Somtyme a man foryeteth er the morwe what he dide..on the nyght biforn. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. vii. 5 The kyng sawe his suster, whom he had nat sene long before. 1616 J. Smith 4 But for diuers others that long before and since haue ranged those parts,..I must entreat them pardon me for omitting them. 1663 J. Heath (1672) Pref. 2 For there have been more Revolts, Defections, and Secesses made in Europe, than for many Centuries before. 1725 H. Pemberton Let. in I. Newton (1977) VII. 314 But if the greatest height of the waters be three hours after the appulse of the luminaries to the meridian, and the least height three hours before; it is evident that [etc.]. 1771 A. Skinn II. liii. 189 The most wonderfullest people in Tragedy shows..they had almost made his wife miscarry the week before, by cutting off Essex's head, as naturable as life. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. 153 Charles the First, eighteen years before, withdrew from his capital. 1898 (Hist. Soc. Dauphin County, Pa.) 39 Prior to 1600, but how long before is not known, the Susquehannocks were seated upon the river from which they have derived their name. 1927 Sept. 14/1 Marley had not forgotten the bitter humiliation attending a forced resignation two years before. 1952 D. Thomas 8 Oct. (1987) 840 I'm sorry not to have written long before: I've had pneumonia etcetera and the etcetera was worse. 2011 R. Rendell xxix. 262 St. Luke's Little Summer, when summer seemed to return and which fell on St. Luke's Day, October 18, and the days before and beyond, was past and a damp chill was in the air. eOE (Royal) (1865) i. lxxix. 152 Þæt [perh. read þone] eceddrenc þe we ær beforan writon. lOE (Laud) anno 1086 Syððan com þurh þa mycclan ungewiderunge þe comon swa we beforan tealdon swyðe mycel hungor ofer eall Engleland. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 100 Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges..But telle hem som bifore and som bihynde. c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock (1921) 136 (MED) What I haue provid bifore toward þe eende of þe iiije chapitre. 1548 W. Patten sig. E.iiii The bankes of it so hie and stepe after ye maner of ye Peaths mencioned before in our mundais iourney. 1613 S. Purchas 486 Alexandria is very vnholesome, as the graue of that Alexandria we before mentioned. 1749 Oct. 173/2 Good Archbishop Cranmer, as related before on page 131, Vol. V, was brought out of prison, and became a burnt-offering to the Queen's bigotry and vengeance. 1812 J. P. Wilson Errata As Hebrew Bibles are very scarce, those who wish to be supplied are hereby recommended to Mr. Horwitz mentioned before on page 231. 1857 J. T. Smith (ed. 2) 48 (footnote) See before, and Extracts: 16. 1905 38 475/2 We think, as said before, that there was a sale, which the buyer cannot destroy by declining to pay the notes representing the price. 1961 P. White 5 Feb. (1994) vi. 181 One point I did not mention before is the dedication. 2002 A. Ellis in I. L. Reiss & A. Ellis 164 More than forty years after our divorce, we're still good friends. Our ‘in-lovedness’, as I noted before, was not made to last. But our ‘loving-kindness’ continues! B. prep. (Also after prepositions: cf. sense D. 1.) I. Of sequence in space. 1. the world > space > relative position > front > in front of [preposition] OE (Corpus Cambr. 41) 25 Dec. 1 Sancta Maria hine acende on þære nihte on anum holum stanscræfe beforan Bethem ðære ceastre. OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) i. vii. 51 He þa sona þone [sc. hwylcnehugu eles] asette beforan þam weofode [OE Hatton beforan þæt weofod; L. ante altare]. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 1745 Þatt recless þatt te bisscopp ðær. Biforenn allterr brennde. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 2272 Al ðo briðere..Fellen bi-forn ðat louerd is fot. a1400 (a1325) (Trin. Cambr.) l. 15023 Biforn her kyng childre cast: braunches broken of bowȝe. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 776 He carieth al this harneys hym biforn. a1500 (?c1450) xv. 237 He dide after many feire chiualries be-fore the castell. 1593 T. Nashe f. 22 Sette some garisonment before the gate of thy Tabernacle, to oppugne the dispossessors of thy Dietie. 1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden 96 Wee decree that every Man possess his Vestibula or Seas lying before his lands. 1696 J. Ovington 416 The Chocadars or Souldiers, were remov'd from before our Gates. 1720 A. Pope tr. Homer VI. xxiii. 28 The bloody Hector stretch'd before thy Feet. 1766 O. Goldsmith I. viii. 79 On the grass-plot before our door. 1805 R. Southey ii. iv. 214 Fires are built before the tents. 1871 W. Black I. xviii. 289 Peering over the edge of the rock before him. 1945 13 May vii. 1/1 Beyond the driveway that runs before her front gate, the greens start popping out of the moist earth. 1999 A. Soueif (2000) 203 A lane opens on to a clearing and the house stands before us. ?1520 tr. Peter of Luxembourg sig. C.i And yf he loke before hym he seeth the deth whiche cometh. 1539 R. Morison sig. Eiiiiv He sawe before hym the losse of his soule. 1656 R. Baxter Reformed Pastor vi, in (1707) IV. 388/2 When I look before me, and consider what through the Blessing of God, this Work well managed is like to produce, it makes my Heart to leap for Joy. 1793 P. Newcome i. ix. 450 Had he been cool and politic, and looked far before him, he might..have ruled without ever calling a Parliament. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. 84 Great statesmen who looked far behind them and far before them. 1920 E. Bagnold iv. xvii. 273 And having hung a thought, a plan, a hope before her in the future, she slept till day broke. 2011 D. M. Minich ii. 109 The ribbon of your life's path, which you see before you, feels complete and dynamic, and at once, you feel confident you can conquer all of life's challenges. 2. OE 147 Oþre apostolas beoþ sende beforan hire bære, mid þy þe heo biþ gongende of lichoman. OE (Claud.) xiii. 21 Drihten for beforan heom [L. praecedebat eos], & swutelode him þone weg. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 5 (MED) Al þe hebreisce folc þe eode efter him and biuoren him. c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 155 Schrift, lo, is gunfanuner, & bereð þe banere biuoren al godes ferd. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xiii. 21 Þe lord forsoþ went beforn hem to be schewed þe way be day in þe pylere of a clowde & be niȝt in a pyler of fyre. 1436 in J. Raine (1855) II. 75 Pore men berand..torches before my cors. 1526 W. Bonde i. sig. Biii Their gyde..to go before them, and conducte or leade them. 1611 Josh. viii. 10 And Ioshua..went vp; he, and the Elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. View more context for this quotation 1682 W. M. Remembr. Show & Shooting 1583 in W. Wood 54 Every one had his Page going before him. a1713 T. Ellwood (1765) 231 Reigning my Horse, to let hers go before me. 1843 T. B. Macaulay 20 Behind him march the halbardiers; before him sound the drums. 1891 R. Kipling xv. 325 Two bogie trucks running before the locomotive were completely covered in with plating. 1931 J. Gavorse i. 12 During the months when he did not have the fasces an orderly should walk before him, while the Lictors followed him. 2009 Apr. 253 One more thing he was—your herald! He went before you into the land of Vidblain. b. Driven in front of, hurried on by. Also figurative. See also to have the ball before one at ball n.1 Phrases 1c, to carry all before one at carry v. Phrases 3a, to run before the wind at run v. 19a.OE King Ælfred tr. (Paris) (2001) xxxiv. 6 Syn hi tostencte, swa swa dust beforan winde [L. ante faciem ventis]. a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) xvii. 46 in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 150 I sal gnide als duste bifor winde likam. a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Lamb.) (1887) i. l. 1414 (MED) Þeir seilles drowe þey right on hey, Byfore þe wynd faste þey fley. 1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten i. iii. 6/2 Wee got before the wind to the cape de Bona Speranza. 1616 J. Smith 49 Onely her spret saile remayned to spoon before the wind, till we had reaccommodated a Iury mast. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 120 Tisiphone..Before her drives Diseases, and affright. View more context for this quotation 1728 J. Thomson (ed. 5) 19 Before the Breath Of all-exerted Heaven they wing their Course. 1769 W. Falconer Transl. French Terms Arriver, to bear away before the wind. 1833 Sept. 66 We described a circle: that is to say, from before the wind to a close hard-on starboard-tack—tacked—close haul on larboard tack—then gradually off until before the wind again! 1864 C. Dickens (1865) I. i. i. 2 Kept the boat in that direction going before the tide. 1899 H. G. Wells xvi. 206 A pale blue shape ascended very swiftly from the city like a dead leaf driving up before a gale. 1935 A. E. Dingle 129 And in the evening, when the schooner slipped along the coast before a fresh, fair breeze, [etc.]. 1998 S. Killing & D. Hunter vi. 142/1 The first sails most certainly weren't foils at all—more along the lines of a square piece of goat skin that hurried a humble vessel along before the wind. the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > preceding or following in order > precede or follow in order [preposition] > preceding in order OE (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1016 Se here him fleah beforan mid heora horsum into Sceapege. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 5142 Æuere heo fluȝen him bi-uoren. þe his feond weoren. c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in (1897) 12 84 Surdyte..made the Saresyns to flee befor hym. 1535 1 Sam. viii. 33 Smytten before their enemies [L. si fugerit populus tuus Israhel inimicos suos quia peccaturus est tibi.] 1600 W. Shakespeare iii. iii. 11 Thou runst before mee. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. 0. 34 Downe goes all before them. View more context for this quotation 1673 J. Scott 15 This makes them flee before a shadow, and when none pursueth them, they run away from themselves. 1724 P. Walker 46 At Bothwel-bridge..the Lord's People fell and fled before the Enemy. 1850 E. B. Browning (new ed.) I. 4 Recoil before that sorrow, if not this sword. 1898 Sept. 277 He had counted on a girl who would plead and cry for mercy and cringe before his might. 1931 C. A. Smith in Apr. 1248/1 Thousands of them had been slain and others compelled to flee before the superior weapons of mankind. 2001 B. K. Das tr. P. Ray lxxxv. 245 Patkhanda Mahapru Himself had retreated before the gods of the gulang babus. 3. In front of so as to be in the sight or hearing of; in or into the presence of. Cf. sense Phrases 4a. See also to lay … before at lay v.1 17, to set before at set v.1 18c. For other quotations perhaps belonging here, see sense B. 12 and note there.the world > space > place > presence > in the presence of [preposition] eOE (Corpus Cambr. 173) xxv. 100 Gif ciepemon uppe on folce ceapie, do þæt beforan gewitnessum. OE (Claud.) xi. 10 Moyses & Aaron worhton ealle ða wundru..beforan Pharaone [L. coram Pharaone]. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 15616 Crist..wrohhte þær biforr þe follc, well fĕle miccle tacness. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 53 Neddre bitacneð þis faȝe folc..þe speket alse feire bi-foren heore euencristene alse heo heom walde in to heore bosme puten. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Tim. vi. 12 Thou..hast knowlechid a good knowleching bifore many witnesses. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 13137 Bifor þis king in his palis, His broþer doghter..Com..for to bale. ?a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Sheep & Dog l. 1167 in (1981) 48 This summondis maid befoir witnes. 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. GGGiiiiv Though the kynge were before hym in his robes of golde, he wolde lytell regarde his royalte. 1601 F. Godwin 398 Preaching at Sittingborne before a great auditory. 1611 John xii. 37 Though he had done..miracles before them. View more context for this quotation 1625 F. Markham iii. ix. 115 Those that were to receiue this Honour..came before him with their Cornutes. 1663 A. Cowley iv. v. 46 Brother Abednego, will you not pronounce this Evening tide before the Congregation of the Spotless in Coleman-street? 1740 C. Cibber vi. 120 I was more abash'd to rehearse so remarkable a Part before the Actors..than to act before an Audience. 1768 L. Sterne II. 147 Nature is shy, and hates to act before spectators. a1811 R. Cumberland Don Pedro i, in (1813) II. 283 You squint at petticoats, Diabolo. I will not speak before that gypsey wench, not I; we'll have no she-monkies in our menagerie. 1883 J. Gilmour xvii. 209 Those who will confess Him before their countrymen. 1937 H. L. Mencken 19 June (1989) 99 He..indulged himself in violent gestures, just as if he had been before an audience. 1993 25 Jan. 12/1 Before a crowded Dallas press conference, a pleased Perot unveiled new versions of the old props. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xxvii. 11 Þa stod se Hælend beforan þam deman [L. ante praesidem]. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 6424 & sede biuore al þe court, þat king edmond biqueþ Is kinedom..king knout biuore is deþ. a1400 in K. W. Engeroff (1914) 88 Þe wryt þat me pledeth in þe citee by-fore justyces oþer by-fore baylyues of þe towne beþ empne, wrytes of newe dysseysyne and of alle justyces owt-nome ȝeres rente. 1512 x Any office or offices found before Eschetour or Eschetours. 1576 W. Lambarde 343 Oure Elders before the conquest, had their trialles for title of land, and other controuersies, in each shire, before a Judge, then called Alderman, or Shyreman. 1601 F. Godwin 451 Both of them being..before the Pope, they fell..into by matters and articling one against another. a1679 R. Boyle (1690) v. iii. 48 That dare appear before this Court in Roystring Periwiggs, whose Locks are like the Whore of Babylons. 1712 R. Steele No. 270. ⁋1 As ill an Action as any that comes before the Magistrate. 1780 M. Madan I. ii. 52 A woman had but to summons her seducer before the judges. 1838 T. Arnold (1848) I. 17 The appeal was tried before all the Romans. 1883 11 595 The proceedings before the police court. 1926 J. Black xviii. 262 I..decided to go before the court under the Speedy Trials Act. 1963 (Office of Federal Register, U.S.) xii. 865/2 The responses to such inquiries are carefully weighed before an otherwise qualified arbitrator. 2001 7 Jan. iv. 17/5 It was the first time an offense of ‘sex tourism’ had come before a court in one of the wealthy countries where this sort of tourism typically originates. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) xvii. 115 Ða ða Cornelius for eaðmodnesse wel dyde ðæt he hine astrehte beforan him [L. sese ei humiliter prosternente]. OE (Claud.) xli. 43 Se bydel bead þæt eal folc bygdon heora cneowa beforan him [L. ut omnes coram eo genuflecterent]. ?a1300 (Bodl.) (1916) l. 367 (MED) Toniȝt ssal mani kniȝtchild knele ȝou biforen. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 660 (MED) Melior..mekli..kneled him bi-fore. c1449 R. Pecock (1860) 169 It is not leeful and expedient that men knele bifore hem [sc. images]. a1500 in C. Brown (1939) 7 (MED) Thys mayden hyȝth mary, she was full mylde, she knelyde by-fore here oune dere chylde. 1586 J. Ferne 105 The Gentleman..kneeleth before his Soueraigne vpon the carpet. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. iii. 54 With no softer Cushion then the Flint I kneele before thee. View more context for this quotation 1658 J. Robinson Calm Ventilation Pseudodoxia Epidemica in v. 142 They dare not seem to worship the bread, by kneeling before it. 1702 C. Mather iv. ii. ii. 148/1 The Papists, who Kneel before their Breaden God. 1788 E. Gibbon V. xlix. 167 An hundred princes bowed before his throne. 1816 J. Wilson i. i. 30 No knee..hath bent before its altar. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. 146 The military power now humbled itself before the civil power. 1916 16 110 The peasant of to-day bows before the images of the sectarian gods. 2004 10 May 20/1 One man knelt before The Rav..and asked that he tie a red string around his wrist and bless him. 4. eOE tr. Orosius (BL Add.) (1980) iv. viii. 99 Hannibal gecyþde þone niþ & þone hete þe he beforan his fæder geswor.., þæt he næfre ne wurde Romana freond. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 8 Swa hwylc swa me andet beforan mannum [L. coram hominibus], þone mannes sunu andet beforan Godes englum. c1350 (Emmanuel) (1948) l. 23 What man þat þe wedde schal bifor God..Loke þat þou him bowe. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xvi. l. 140 By-for perpetual pees ich shal preoue þat ich seide, And a-vowe by-for God. 1534 T. Lupset tr. St. Isidore f. ixv An yuel worde may not be hydde in silence, that thou doest or sayest within thy selfe. Beleue thou that hit is open before god. 1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto l. 200 I do solemnly swear unto you before the greatest of all the Gods..never to leave that Religion Which by your pleasure I shall be commanded to profess. 1711 J. Addison No. 9. ¶4 That of the Georges, which used to meet at the sign of the George..and swear Before George. 1815 W. H. Ireland 234 The subject having been so recently before the public in all the diurnal prints. 1857 H. T. Buckle I. xii. 671 The accusations brought against these great men are before the world. 1935 G. Blake i. 10 A fine flotilla, created by men who had the art of the thing in their blood, mighty craftsmen before the Lord. 2007 E. Irwin in B. MacLachlan & J. Fletcher i. 13 Hestia, despite the suits of Poseidon and Apollo, firmly resisted them and swore a great oath before Zeus that she would live forever virgin. 1551 T. Wilson sig. D.v We are..occupied in a matter that is before vs. 1681 J. Flavell vii. 146 Read not these lines with a running careless eye, but seriously ponder the matter before you. a1711 T. Ken Divine Love in (1838) 217 That which now lies before you is to shew, how your abrenunciation is preparatory to the love of God. 1767 G. Costard vi. 242 The nature of the Problem before us is, at any assigned place to determine its Longitude and Latitude. 1818 Feb. 123/2 We hoped to obtain some clue to unravel the mystery before us. 1857 H. T. Buckle I. i. 19 The problem immediately before us, is to ascertain the method. 1891 L. F. Ward in (1915) IV. 257 There is strictly speaking only one prominent question before the biological world. 1915 R. V. Cole i. iii. 56 The first difficulty before a student is to see nature as spaces of light and dark, not as a number of separate objects independent of their surroundings. 1959 27 July 15/2 While you have the puzzle before you, solve it and rush coupon to us. 2001 J. T. Roberts in D. McCann & B. S. Strauss iv. xii. 238 The subject matter before us..affords a rich opportunity. OE (Claud.) iii. 21 Ic sylle ðyson folce gyfe beforan ðam Egyptyscan folce [L. coram Aegyptiis]. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xv. 21 Fæder, ic syngude on heofon, & beforan ðe [L. coram te]. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 117 Teȝȝ wærenn biforenn godd Rihhtwise menn. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 15 (MED) Eour eyþer sunegað bi-foran drihten. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1969) Baruch i. 17 We han synned befor þe lord oure god [L. ante Dominum nostrum], & we han not leeued mystrostande in to hym. a1425 (?c1400) J. Wyclif (1871) III. 106 (MED) We..makeþ oure synnes more grevous byfore God and axeþ verray vengeaunce to ous self of God. 1583 P. Stubbes sig. C6 Though this be not theft before the world, nor punishable by penall lawes. 1611 Gen. xliii. 14 God Almightie giue you mercie before the man. View more context for this quotation a1639 J. Dyke (1640) xiv. 195 Paul..for legall righteousnesse, a man before men unblameable. 1795 F. Plowden i. ix. 100 The action..was conscientiously criminal or sinful before God. 1879 May 159/1 To injure them, to take away one iota of them, was not only unjust before men, but sacrilege. 1918 52 277/1 The churches, many of them, do not have the courage to testify against these respectable sins, to make men know that these things are hateful before high heaven. 1999 R. Susek iv. xvii. 178 Few things are so dishonorable to Christ or disgraceful before the world as a church in conflict. 6. In front of in the course of action or of life; in prospect. OE Ælfric (Claud.) xx. 15 Land lið beforan eow [L. coram vobis]; wuna þær ðe leofost ys. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xx. 15 Þe lond is befor ȝou; wher euer it schall pleese to þe, dwel. c1475 (a1400) Sir Amadace (Taylor) in J. Robson (1842) 38 (MED) In gud tyme were he borne, That hade a peny him bi-forne. 1535 Gen. xx. D Beholde, my londe stondeth open before the [1611 is before thee], dwell where it liketh the. 1667 J. Milton xii. 646 The World was all before them, where to choose Thir place of rest. View more context for this quotation 1779 Duchess of Devonshire I. viii. 80 I had the whole world before me. 1806 W. Wordsworth Char. Happy Warrior in (1832) III. 212 Who is the happy Warrior?.. It is the generous Spirit,..Whose high endeavours are an inward light That makes the path before him always bright. 1842 15 Jan. 21/2 A woman said it was not worth her while to come out of her way to us with better fruit than that we refused..; this with a sure market would be nothing, or with any spare money; but with a very precarious sale, and not a penny before them, it is very strange. 1882 T. Hughes ii. 10 He had the world before him. 1949 N. Rogers (1957) 26 He was forsaking medicine for poetry, and confident in his genius and his ambition, saw the world before him. 2011 M. Shermer i. i. 14 Chick was troubled by the uncertainty of where his life would go from there, restless about which path before him to take. OE (Claud.) xi. 26 Nu to dæg ic sette beforan eow [L. in conspectu vestro] bletsunga & wyrignysse: bletsunge, gyf ge hyrsumiað Drihtnes bebodum. a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 63 Þe saule of him is forloren and þe sorȝe is him biforen. a1400 (a1325) (Trin. Cambr.) l. 15714 Muchel woo if he wist: is bifore him leide. 1576 E. Dering sig. K.vii If we transgresse, the punishment of our sinne is before vs. 1679 J. Goodman 154 I have a prospect of nothing but death before me in the case I am in. 1749 N. French xxiv. 253 The Days before me being too few to lament my Sins. 1788 F. Burney (2014) IV. 581 She is no hoper,—she sees nothing before us but despair & horrour. 1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. ii, in 88 Their Graves before them and their Griefs behind. 1834 T. Carlyle iii. v The golden age..which a blind tradition has hitherto placed in the Past, is Before us. 1878 J. Payn I. i. 12 There are years of life before you yet. 1923 G. B. Stern 187 It's a sobering thought that I may have a whole thirty years before me in which to get over the infatuation. 1961 Jan. 22/1 No commercial firm or ordinary scientific institution has anything like this kind of task before them. 2011 R. Bolt 117 The life that stretched before her seemed flat and arid. II. Of sequence in time or order. 7. eOE (Parker) 65 Ne wearð wæl mare on þis eiglande æfer [perh. read æfre] gieta folces gefylled beforan þissum. OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) i. 5 Mæden heo wæs beforan ðære cenninge, and mæden on ðære cenninge, and mæden æfter ðære cenninge. ?a1160 (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1154 Þa he to Engleland com, þa was he..to king bletcæd in Lundene on þe Sunnendæi beforen midwintre dæi. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 177 He shall newenn cumenn forþ Biforenn cristess come. c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) p. 466 On a day bifor þe natiuite Of seyn Ion. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 5064 I saghe þe neuer be-for þis day. 1485–6 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Nov. 1485 1st Roll §20. m. 15 Before the fest of Ester than next ensuyng. 1506 in S. Tymms (1850) 108 I anulle and revoke all the villes mad by for this date. 1577 R. Holinshed II. 947/1 Before that time, there were no other coynes, but the Noble, halfe noble, and quarter noble. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iv. 7 And why should wee proclaime it in an howre before his entring? View more context for this quotation 1678 A. Wood (1892) II. 407 The church..containing a good set of organs before the warr time. 1712 R. Steele No. 493. ⁋4 He wondered I was not dead before now. 1779 S. Johnson Dryden in III. 41 It was written before The Conquest of Granada. 1832 H. Martineau iii. 39 Would be back before dark. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. 561 Thirty-five years before this time. 1883 13 Oct. 273/2 The £50 duty is not payable until before the expiration of the fourth year. 1921 Sept. 226/1 We might go back to before the Christian era and consider the Aeolipile as the first useful application. 1953 in F. Hunter vii. 199 Some of us decided that we should get our lines straight before going into the meeting. 2011 B. Harvey & O. Zakutnyaya iv. 211 In the 1950s, before the space age, there was a consensus that Venus was a benign world with a surface temperature of 60-75°C, watery oceans, and exotic plants like water lilies. 1430 Astron. Cal. in E. M. Thompson et al. (1913) 2nd Ser. I. Pl. 72b (MED) Þe laste chonge before was þe 9 day before 18 Mynutes before 9 of þe cloke. 1572 T. Hill sig. Diiv The second day at .xi. of the clocke, and .xv. minuts before noone, heate, after clowdye, with vnstable weather. 1604 3 f. 213 He..delivered [the Writ] half an houre before Eight at the Fleet. 1680 (single sheet) On Friday, a quarter before twelve, he departed this Life. 1705 I. Newton Let. 18 Sept. in (1967) IV. 449 I beg ye favour that you would be in ye Anti-chamer on ye Princes side about a quarter before six. 1710 443/2 The Sun set that Evening Eight Minutes before Five. 1802 July 667/1 I ascended with him yesterday afternoon at ten minutes before five o'clock, according to my watch. 1861 C. Dickens I. xxii. 183 On the Monday morning, at a quarter before nine, Herbert went to the counting-house to report himself. 1903 A. H. Lewis iv. 52 Half an hour before six, blow your whistle an' sail in. 1979 Apr. 95/2 Twenty minutes before 10 o'clock last he got up..and went to the bathroom. 2007 V. Spiaggi 370 He entered his office at five before nine. 1533 T. More f. 287v In the ende of my preface byfore Tyndals confutacyon these are my very wordes. ?c1622 E. Bolton (1722) ii. 249 Sr Walter Raleigh's..prefatory Epistle before his mighty Undertaking in the History of the World. 1721 (ed. 2) II. 941/1 The Notator Dr. Potter in his Epistle before it to the Reaer saith thus. 1735 W. Somervile Pref. sig. A4 The short Preface before the Paradise Lost. 1857 W. B. Sprague I. 97 He wrote several Introductions to other men's works; among which his Epistle before Scudder's ‘Daily Walk’ is mentioned as worthy to be reckoned itself a book. 1888 C. T. Jacobi 103 Preliminary, any matter coming before the main text of a work—title, preface, contents, etc. 1943 C. A. Wood & F. M. Fyfe in tr. Frederick II of Hohenstaufen p. lix/2 On page 541, before the paragraph at the bottom of the page that begins Sequitur dicere, there is missing a passage that is found in the Bologna manuscript. 2009 P. S. Perry v. 221 Cicero often used a digression before the conclusion of the speech. OE (Corpus Cambr.) i. 15 Se ðe to cumenne is æfter me wæs geworden beforan me [L. ante me]. OE Homily (Hatton 113) in A. S. Napier (1883) 136 Uton geþencan, to hwam þa gewurdan, þe beforan us wæron. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 219 Alse..word þe laste man isib þe formeste þe was biforn us. ?a1300 Sayings St. Bernard (Digby) in F. J. Furnivall (1901) ii. 761 (MED) Uuere beþ þey biforen vs weren? c1400 (Rawl. B. 171) 50 Þai mowen leue, as here auncestres deden biforne ham. 1536 R. Taverner tr. P. Melanchthon f. 18v The olde fathers before Gregorie speketh nothyng of the pryuate Masse. 1650 F. Cheynell vi. 74 And it will be most absurd to say, that the humane nature was assumed by Christ, and hypostatically united without or before the existence of that nature, because it was united before it had any humane subsistence. 1678 R. Cudworth i. i. 35 All the other ancient Physiologers that were before Anaxagoras. 1700 tr. J. Le Clerc iv. 188 Our natural Curiosity of knowing the Opinions and Actions of those, who lived before us. 1750 T. Short ii. iii. 124 Honey is a natural Soap, attenuating, aperitive, loosening, cleansing, laxative, and stimulating, of great Esteem before the Use of Sugar. 1819 Ld. Byron v. 5 Brave men were living before Agamemnon. 1861 C. Knight VII. xxviii. 512 In the days before steam-navigation, before railways, before electric telegraphs, the proceedings of statesmen and of warriors had to be regulated by the arrival of news rather than by the dates of occurrences in distant places which despatches recorded. 1870 A. Trollope 401 It is so easy to be a lord if your father is one before you. 1949 Nov. 11/1 We enjoy..an inheritance passed on to us by all the Americans who lived before us. 1996 A. Alvarez i. 21 Before electricity, every hour reclaimed from night was a triumph over adversity. 1519 sig. F.viiv If any pryncipal or accessary be acquit of murder at ye kyngs suet before ye yere & the day, yet ye same Justyce shal remyt hym agayne to pryson. 1585 R. P. tr. D. Ortúñez de Calahorra f. 201 The Emperor..dailie did comfort the Princesse, saying that before long her brother Meridian would come thether. 1630 W. Vaughan sig. A7 Before seauen yeares, our New-found Land should..double those sayles of Ships. 1723 W. Bohun (ed. 3) 175 The Apprentice at any time before one Year (if his Master do not Inrol the Indenture) may exhibit a Petition in French to the Lord Maior and Aldermen. 1735 27 Dec. 428 I will answer for it, that before two Days, there will not be the least Mark remaining of Junquille's Revenge. 1826 17 379 The May rents are coming in, and the thing will be settled before another month. 1868 Ann. Rep. State Hosp. for Insane in 274 I am led to fear that unless more force is put on, they cannot be completed before another year. 1905 C. S. Tate i. 13 Before a year he was a burglar. 1959 Dec. 18/1 You've got a short-term gain or loss if you sell before six months. 2007 K. James vi. 48 I have had to agree but who is to go we must decide before two days. III. Of rank or degree. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) lvi. 435 Swa micle swa se bið beforan ðe on ðæm stole sitt ðæm oðrum ðe ðær ymb stondað [L sicut assistentibus turbis praelati sunt qui cathedrae honore fulciuntur]. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius (Bodl.) (2009) I. 269 Þæs menniscan lifes gecynd is þæt hi þy anan seon beforan eallum oðrum gesceaftum þy hi hie selfe ongiton. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1940) 315 Forþi is hare aturn se briht & se schene biuoren alle oþre. c1300 St. Michael (Harl.) in T. Wright (1841) 140 Al that a man hath bifore a best. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) l. 914 By-fore alle men vpon molde his mensk is þe most. 1526 W. Bonde i. sig. Cii The philosophers, that trusted in their owne connyng..that they had before other. 1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer i. 266 Atrides is before you in command. 1755 S. Johnson (at cited word) He is before his competitors both in right and power. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. 413 The nation which was so far before its neighbours in science. 1884 July 373/2 If the object in view is to find among its own graduates or in the body of graduates of all the colleges the man who ought to be honored before all others, this is by no means an easy problem to solve. 1934 L. M. Sieveking & I. F. D. Morrow tr. E. Corti iii. 46 He might have determined not to marry the Grand Duchess if he had put his own interests before those of his country. 2011 J. Muth i. 35 Technological interest ranked before everything else. the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choice [preposition] > before in preference OE (Corpus Cambr.) ii.12 Ne sceal he þone æþelborenan settan beforan [L. praeponatur] þane þeowborenan. OE (Corpus Cambr.) iv. 17 Fram weoruldwilnungum hine sceal gehwa fremdian and nan þing beforan Cristes lufe settan [L. nihil amori Christi preponere]. OE (Claud.) v. 7 Nafa ðu fremde godas beforan me. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1940) 310 He menskeð ham se muchel biuoren alle þe oðre as þe brudgume deð his weddede spuse. a1450 (a1400) Ten Commandments (Bodl.) in T. Arnold (1871) III. 83 Þow schalt not have bifore me alyen Goddis. a1500 (a1450) in C. Monro (1863) 97 To do yow worship by wey of marriage, bifore all creatures lyvyng. 1573 G. Harvey (1884) 7 I praefer Tulli before Caesar in writing Latin; do I therefore disable or disalow Caesar? 1611 2 Sam. vi. 21 The Lord, which chose me before thy father, & before all his house. View more context for this quotation 1653 I. Walton i. 16 Action is..to be preferr'd before Contemplation. View more context for this quotation a1701 H. Maundrell (1703) 85 This Oyl they take inwardly..preferring it before Balm of Gilead. 1745 E. Young 30 Why then is Health preferr'd before Disease? 1806 J. Davis ix. 51 I will put up my sword in the presence of women; but I shall find time and place. Death before dishonour. 1859 S. S. Madders I. xi. 350 I would have in my heart desired to die before yielding to such shame, had I power. 1934 E. Ylvisaker 25 As evidence that he preferred charity before vengeance, the Reverend Ottesen begged his wife not to dig up a rose bush which she herself had planted on the lawn. 2010 S. Foran in 24 Barbour is not advocating death before retreat but death before shame. 1711 J. Addison No. 98. ¶1 The Women were of such an enormous Stature, that we appeared as Grashoppers before them. 1832 Ld. Tennyson ii So shows my soul before the Lamb, My spirit before Thee. 2011 M. Tamari 23 The birth of the child of the Shunemite woman pales in comparison before these major stories, with their significance for our national history, indeed for the history of mankind. C. conj. 1. Earlier than the time when. OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius (Vitell.) (1984) lviii. Smyra þærmid þa ðe þæt yfel þoligen toforan þam þe [L. antequam] hyt hym to wylle.] c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 968 Biforenn þatt te laferrd crist Wass borenn her to manne. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) John viii. 58 Bifore that Abraham was maad, I am. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 10603 Be-forn þat sco was of hir moder born. 1484 King Richard III in N. H. Nicolas (1830) p. xlii I shall not geve therunto faith ne credence, nor therfore put them to any maner ponysshement, before that they or any of them so accused may be at their lawfull defence and answer. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus f. 280 Neither did he repaire vnto Sylla before that he had..vanquyshed diuerse capitaines of enemies. 1578 T. Proctor F iv b As tender Flaxe can beare no stresse, before that it bee sponne. 1611 John i. 48 Before that Philip called thee..I saw thee. View more context for this quotation 1669 A. Browne 101 Before that you begin to Hatch or shadow, you must draw all the outmost lines with a needle. 1723 I. 29 And of his Noble Mother's Dream, Before that he was born. 1758 84 Before that either gain'd the Day, By Heaven! there was Hell to pay. 1787 ‘P. Pindar’ (ed. 5) iii. 8 Before that Boys can rise to Master-Tanners, Humble those Boys must be. a1800 Coble o' Cargill in F. J. Child (1892) IV. viii. 359 Before that he was mid-waters, The weary coble began to fill. 1858 A. R. Fausset tr. J. A. Bengel II. 248 John Baptist, before that he was born of Elizabeth, had no existence. 1884 ‘Cruck-a-Leaghan’ & ‘Slieve Gallion’ 44 For twelve month at laste in the house there wis feastin', An' drinkin', an' spreein' before that he died. 1885 A. J. Church xxiv. 268 ‘And where doth thy mother live?’ said I. ‘In London,’ he answered, ‘or, I should rather say in Westminster, in her own house which my father bought twenty years or so before that he died.’ c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 951 Seue hondred ȝer & nyenty hit was ek biuore Er þan oure louerd crist anerþe was ibore. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 9 Before ar any thyng was wroght. ?a1425 (c1400) (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 54 Before or þei resceyue hem, þei knelen doun. a1500 (?c1440) J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep (Lansd.) l. 320 in (1934) ii. 552 (MED) This Paschale Lamb..yaff His bodi to man in forme of bred On Sheerthursday be-forn ar He was ded. ?a1518 H. Watson (1555) sig. Z.ii Before or you entre you shall Iust with him fiue or syxe strokes wyth a spere. 1660 S. Fisher i. 98 What Paul calls his own, was that he had of old.., before ere he received any from Christ. 1816 (ed. 2) XVII. 702/1 The piston, when let go, will descend farther than it did before ere the piston-valve open. 1846 II. iv. 38 Ruin comes before ere we awake from our infatuation. 2004 H. R. Haggard & M. J. McHugh xviii. 261 But it is of no avail, for this battle was lost before ere it began. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms cxxviii. 6 Be thei maad as hei of rooues; that beforn it be pullid out, ful out driede. c1400 (?c1380) l. 530 (MED) On oure byfore þe sonne go doun. ?a1425 (c1400) (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 11 ij Mil. ȝeer before oure lord was born. 1504 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1504 §34. m. 24 Sir William..lay both at surgery and fesyk..by the space of .ij. yeres..by fore he was able to ride. 1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius 76 The day befoir he sufferit. 1600 M. Sutcliffe Ep. Ded. sig. A6 It shall not be long, before I come into the steccato, and buckle with you againe. 1658 tr. J. Ussher 405 Seleucus was dead before he came. 1711 J. Addison No. 1. ¶2 I threw away my Rattle before I was two Months old. 1774 O. Goldsmith VIII. 149 The cold weather frequently comes on before the worm is transformed into a fly. 1816 J. Wilson i. ii. 90 Ay, she intends to look before she leaps. 1856 C. M. Yonge Pref. p. viii For those who may deem the story too long, and the characters too numerous the Author can only beg their pardon for any tedium that they may have undergone before giving it up. 1889 J. M. Barrie x. 90 His effects were rouped before I knew him. 1938 D. Baker iv. vii. 278 The record company went broke before any of their records were issued. 1995 July 40/1 Unless you throw yourself under a bus, they will undoubtedly pop off before you do. ?1577 Misogonus in R. W. Bond (1911) 257 I will rather run quite away before Ile go with the. 1578 T. White 35 He sayde he would die before deny christ. 1600 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 299 Treble that, before a friend..shall lose a haire. View more context for this quotation a1679 Earl of Orrery (1693) ii. 13 I told him, I would die before I would reveal it. 1725 N. Bailey tr. Erasmus 96 I will leave off to live, before I will to remember you. 1787 W. Hutton lxi. 276 I will spend twenty pounds in another Court before I will be wronged in this. 1839 Feb. 281/2 I will kill myself before I will consent to marry him. 1899 July 107/1 Here he was interrupted by a statement that the clerk said he would resign before he would call the roll. 1946 July 36/3 He would starve before he would eat that snake raw. 2006 W. D. Wyatt 12 I will not ride in this car! I will take a lorry before I will be robbed! D. n. 1. The adverb after prepositions. a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 109 Oon ioynture, þe which þat strecchiþ from bifore to bihynde to þe lenkþe of þe heed. 1592 tr. F. Du Jon (Rev. x. 1) 33 Repeated from before; vnto the end of the chapter. 1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Parey (1649) x. i. 263 From before to behind, and the contrary, as when the forehead is smitten, the nose cleft. 1691 E. Pococke Comm. Joel ii, in (1750) I. 316/2 The word call here appears to include and import more than a promiscuous calling, viz. election from before, and such a calling in due time. 1726 N. B. Philippos 84/2 The longest of them runs length ways from before to the Noll, where it is divided into some Branches. 1796 Apr. 245/1 His corpse,..covered with wounds, all received from before, and close to the point of attack, clearly declared that this resolute Mogul..possessed the genuine spirit of a soldier. 1855 R. Owen 302 Counting the molars from before backwards. 1898 H. M. Field xvi. 233 Looking then at the question from before and after, Mr. Field reasoned that the proper moment to stop a war was before it was begun. 1928 E. A. Dawes tr. A. Comnena (1967) v. 123 The Emperor for his part stood like an unshaken tower with darts thrown at him from before and behind. 2011 H. Beach xiii. 64 The bar staff were different from before, with two barmaids and six waiters/waitresses going around the now almost all full tables. the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] 1402 in (1880) No. 22 Question and debate beand movit of before bytwene the burowys of Perth..and of Dunde. 1467 in T. Thomson (1839) 6/2 And gif the said Johne has pait the said malis of before to ony vther, he to haf regres to tha persouns as law wil. 1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in (1998) I. 190 Scho semyt lustiar of chere..Than of before. 1587 in C. Innes (1842) 449 Alsmekill beir and aittis..as ye said kirk of newbirne schyre was assumit of befoir in awld. c1600 (1833) 109 Sho past a lytill of befoir to vesie hir sone. 1643 (single sheet) The saids Lords of Privie Councell..doe now, as of before, desire every one of His Majesties subjects [etc.] the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [noun] > time preceding something or eve 1551 S. Gardiner f. 90 Sainct Augustine speakinge of a (before) muste be vnderstanded of the worshipping of Christes flessh present in the Sacrament. 1695 J. Williams 71 There is a Before, a Present, and an After in Time. 1789 tr. I. 295 The word ἀγóραιος, with the sharp accent on the before and last.., signifies the market-day. 1811 S. E. Pierce 404 There are two befores annexed to this predestination: foreordained, and before the foundation of the world. 1850 Ld. Tennyson xxvi. 43 Oh, if indeed that eye foresee Or see (in Him is no before) In more of life true life no more. View more context for this quotation 1897 6 Mar. 6/1 One who has witnessed the before and after of the abolition of pain. 1946 B. Russell i. iv. 65 A mode of being..in which there is no before and after. 2011 A. Nightingale ii. 97 He longs to forget the past and transcend all temporal befores. 1654 J. Trapp 452 Here are three cautionary Befores, as there are four comfortable Yets to be read. 1905 Jan. 46 If Mr. Twine has any more befores.., he will say that before he was a seed he was nothing. 2011 R. Olsen xxvii. 243 You can write a short script that will read and execute a file full of befores. Phrases1766 Mar. 156/1 Before and after in two prints. 1768 W. Hogarth in Index A List of Prints published by Mr. Hogarth... Before and After. 1846 11 243/1 (captions) Before..After. 1894 F. M. Ford 65 A photograph of you now would be a most valuable advertisement—before taking and after. 1896 J. M. Barrie iv. 39 He and the happy husband were nicknamed Before and After, they were so like the pictorial advertisement of Man before and after he has tried Someone's lozenges. 1902 II. 432/1 Those restaurants which advertise by means of looking-glasses labelled ‘before’ and ‘after’. As you go in you behold yourself very thin..as you go out..fat and well-satisfied. 1947 H. L. Bird iii. xvii. Illustr. 256–7 (caption) Before and after in package redesigning. 2011 C. Tripodi vii. 179 Curtis showed him an aerial picture of houses before and after aerial bombardment. c1200 Incipits & Explicits in H. Wanley (1705) 233 Bifore alle þing, þreo þing beoð efric man helwuurþe. 1531 tr. E. Fox et al. ii. f. 32v In all and before all a man shuld regarde the commaundement of god. 1574 tr. T. de Bèze et al. in p. ccx And before all we doo require and with teares humbly craue that oure..brethern off the Englishe churches, all bitternes off minde set aparte. 1606 W. Arthur & H. Charteris (1 Thess.) xxv. 318 Before all we should take heed to the workes of all, the holy Ghost that dwels in our soules as a temple. 1695 W. J. tr. R. Le Bossu vi. viii. 265 We must before every thing rectifie our Judgment. 1739 S. A. Laval IV. i. 510 Before all, they thought proper to renew a strict and perpetual Union amongst themselves. 1826 tr. F. A. Mignet ix. 312 He drew forth his poniard; waved it before the indignant convention, and demanded before everything the arrest of Henriot and the permanence of the assembly. 1845 tr. F. H. K. de La Motte Fouqué v. 99 I must, before all, get Isolde out of the Provencal castle. 1897 C. Garnett tr. I. Turgenev xliv. 240 Then Gemma..wished him before everything peace and a tranquil spirit. 1944 G. Myrdal II. xli. 906 Before all, he needs not to be specialized, but to be changeable, ‘educable’. 2000 K. Jameson-Cemper tr. Mme de Staël 297 Before everything, you must know what is going on within me. P3. 1548 G. Joye in tr. A. Osiander i. sig. Avi.v (margin) Symon iustus made their thalmude. 210. before Christe. 1603 J. Monipennie sig. Bv Iosina succeeded his brother Thereus, in the yeere of the world, 3810. In the yeere before Christ, 161. 1758 Nov. 583/2 An eclipse..recorded..the very day it was observed, at Pekin, which, reduced to the Julian account, was Oct. 10. in the year 2155 before Christ. 1807 T. Young I. xlv. 539 The 25th of December in his [s.c. Julius Caesar's] 45th year is considered as the date of the Nativity of Christ, and Caesar's 46th is reckoned the first of our era. The preceding year is commonly called by astronomers the year 0, but by chronologists the year 1 before Christ. 1910 A. Schlesinger xvi. 150 Aristotle,..who was born 384 and died 322 before Christ,..denounced the taking of interest as an unnatural profit. 2012 (Nexis) 11 Sept. The Chariot of the Sun,..discovered in a Danish peat bog in 1902,..probably dates to the 14th century before Christ. 1720 J. Chamberlayne tr. J. Saurin I. viii. 81 He has demonstrated..that the Deluge happened in the Year of the World 1656, which was 367 Years before Abraham enter'd into the Land of Canaan..and 2291 before the common Æra of Jesus Christ [Fr. avant l'Ere commune de Jésus-Christ]. 1832 J. Bell (new ed.) V. 539/1 The first year of the first Olympiad begins in the summer of the 776th year before the common era. 1911 14 Oct. 317/2 The second Isaiah, though he lived in the days of Cyrus I. about 536 before common era, knew the properties of the moon to be..a dark body, borrowing her light from the sun. 2010 11 Dec. (Sat. Review section) 10/2 Proverbs..is an adaptation of The Instruction of Amenemope, an Egyptian text of pithy sayings from the second millennium Before Common Era. P4. eOE (Mercian) (1965) c. 3 Non proponebam ante oculos meos rem malam facientes : ic no foresette biforan egum minum wisan yfle donde. OE tr. Felix (Vesp.) (1909) xvii. 155 Hi manigum wundrum and tacnum þurh godes mihte beforan manna eagum scinon. a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily De Duodecim Abusivis (Lamb. 487) in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 111 Þine welan forrotiað biforan [OE Corpus Cambr. 178 ætforan] þine ehȝan. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. l. 1048 Brent in a fyr before here yhen. 1440 in J. Raine (1855) II. 76 Yai, havand Gode before yer eghen, do trewe execution of yis my presentt testament. 1548 E. Gest sig. Hii Let us not grossely beholde the breade and cuppe proposed and set before our eyes, but in faythe, consydere the lambe of God. 1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione ii. sig. M.iv In the presence and..beefore the very eyes of his king. 1611 Psalms xxxi. 22 I am cut off from before thine eies. View more context for this quotation 1704 W. Baxter tr. Plutarch Of Isis & Osiris in tr. Plutarch (ed. 4) IV. 128 And this, although they had the Absurdity of such a monstrous Opinion before their Very Eyes. 1781 E. Gibbon III. 228 Beaten to death with sticks, before the eyes of the astonished emperor. 1833 H. Martineau ii. 20 A thousand other images, came in turbulent succession, almost as rapidly as the pictures of a whole life flit before the very eyes of a drowning man. 1883 R. W. Dixon ii. v. 82 For nought beside vain dalliance cared they, And their light folly was before our eyes. 1910 A. W. Ward in A. W. Ward & A. R. Waller (1927) VI. vii. 205 This section was written with the conception of a more perfect history before the eyes of the author. 2001 B. Broady 199 It was really happening! Before my very eyes, Bradford was bouncing back! OE 157 He hie þa ahof up on wolcnum beforan Drihtnes gesihþe.] c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 5495 Wiþþ þatt itt iss inn heoffness ærd Biforenn godess sihhþe. c1390 in C. Horstmann (1892) i. 143 (MED) Heo preyeþ to don hire lawe and riht, Hire sone don come bi-fore heore siht. c1572 W. Forrest Theophilus 1057 in (1884) 7 108 Although to his shame yt make an uprore Of admyration before the worldes sight. 1744 M. Byles 26 Now clanking Chains amaze my list'ning Ears, And hideous Spectres skim before my Sight. 1815 Dec. 487 Their belief that the raw militia of Kentucky and Tennessee..could not stand before the very sight of so numerous a body of regular troops advancing to attack them, made them disregard the admonition of sober reason. 1951 S. H. Bell ii. xx. 219 Fear of her neighbours partly, but also, let it be said, shame and remorse when she thought of the life that she was unrolling, day by day, before the sight of God and her mother in Heaven. 2004 R. W. Barber xvi. 218 He will see no more of the Grail than what has already passed before his sight. c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in (1897) 12 107 (MED) I wolle haue..sume people..that wolle take wages, and I wolle pay theym..before the honde. a1599 R. Rollock (1619) viii. 76 These things I tolde you before the hand, that ye should belieue. 1681 J. Dalrymple xix. 385 There is a kind of tacite Relocation, by taking the Rent before the hand, during which time..the setter cannot remove the Defuncts Successor for the years ensuing. 1700 J. Gordon 9 He might have added that other Diverb, That few are wise before the hand like Prometheus, but too many resemble his Brother Epimetheus, in being wise behind the hand. Compounds C1. Prefixed to underived nouns. a. With the sense ‘positioned before something else, anterior’. Cf. ante- prefix 1a. Obsolete. rare. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) 3 Esdras ix. 1 Risende vp Esdras fro the beforn porche [L. ante atrium] of the temple. b. Of time. (a) With the sense ‘previous, earlier’. See also beforetime n. Cf. ante- prefix 1b. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. i. 169 Men are punisht, for before breach of the Kings Lawes. 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in i. f. cccxxxiiiv/2 I reherce thy before dede. 1803 G. Canning Let. 25 Aug. in (1897) 88 120 The Government would have fallen before the end of the before Christmas Session. 1827 May 419 The before breakfast exercise should be deferred. 1878 M. Weld II. i. 13 But when he went to his lonely bed there was a confused sweetness in his before-sleep reverie. 1902 L. C. Strang 2nd Ser. ii. 36 Gradually his ‘before-marriage’ friends ceased to visit him. 1926 D. H. Lawrence 64 The tender before-dawn freshness of a new understanding. 1966 ‘W. Cooper’ iii. ii. 214 We were going upstairs to have our before-dinner drink in the library. 2008 S. King 515 There had apparently been a before-show party. (c) the world > life > source or principle of life > [noun] > that which is prior to life 1905 tr. R. Wagner Diary in Nov. 520/1 On this day, at this hour, was I born anew. To then was my before-life [Ger. Vorleben]; from then began my after-life [Ger. Nachleben]. 1927 D. H. Lawrence 154 They were the lords of shadow, the intermediate twilight, the place of after-life and before-life. 1993 J. Meades (1994) 390 The after life is no more egalitarian than the before life; there exists a metempsychotic hierarchy. 2009 R. Alcorn xxviii. 294 We could more accurately call our present existence the beforelife rather than calling Heaven the afterlife. 1944 52 68/2 If the readjusted profit rate is computed separately..it comes out to..almost exactly the 1939 before-tax-profit-rate. 1967 Oct. 71 When I pay talent or buy feature films..I've got to use after-tax dollars. They use before-tax dollars. 1995 Mar. 21/3 Your ‘net relevant earnings’..is your taxable income if you're self-employed or your before-tax income from a job. 2005 19 Nov. 45/7 Investors are being misled by fund manager who only disclose before-tax returns on their products. C2. Prefixed to past participial adjectives and past participles chiefly in the sense ‘previously, formerly’. Also in non-finite clauses introduced by as. See also beforesaid adj. Cf. afore- prefix 1b. a. the world > existence and causation > creation > [adjective] > created or produced > previously 1693 H. Brown tr. T. Burnet in C. Blount 58 The Fall of the Angels was before the Creation of the World, therefore they were before created, and that for some Ages. 1698 i. i. 3 For had there been a former Matter, the Creation had not been first; and if any thing were before Created, there must be a double Creation. 1786 E. Burke Articles of Charge against W. Hastings in (1815) XII. 360 The pernicious consequences of his before-created unwarrantable, and illegal arrangements. 1856 E. Röer tr. 23 Having thus desired, he created, by his before created mind, speech. 1895 18 July 5/2 The terms of the deed..cannot affect the disposition of the fund before created. 2002 M. Korschen 147 During the deletion run the before created archive files are read and the appurtenant data is deleted and removed from the database. the mind > language > speech > [adjective] > commenting or mentioning > aforementioned 1606 S. Hieron Truths Purchase in (1620) I. 44 Let vs remember the before-deliuered matter. 1824 C. Bew 23 I wish to be understood, as adhering stedfastly to my before-delivered opinion, that Tic Douloureux owes its origin to nervous irritation in the teeth. the mind > language > speech > [adjective] > commenting or mentioning > aforementioned 1534 G. Ferrers tr. f. 47 Another man that is bound in none of these cases before mencyoned. 1654 R. Baxter i. 4 But to be his by election, union with Christ, and special interest (as before mentioned) is the peculiar property of those that shall have this Rest. 1671 F. Philipps 534 By the beforemention'd Opinions of Sir Christopher Wray. 1747 B. Kennicott i. 17 And this is what some considerable Authors, leaving the other Explanation, (probably on account of the before-mention'd difficulties) have determin'd and adher'd to. 1815 V. 781/1 The queen..takes all the steps of the before-mentioned pieces. 1885 H. S. Edwards III. xxxiii. 227 I was free to proceed by train first to Brussels,..and from Rouen...to Villeneuve; which, as before mentioned, lies between St. Malo and Morlaix. 1944 T. J. Kelly iii. 14 The before-mentioned Navy Yard activities will not delay in delivering the material they have been carefully amassing for his action. 2001 26 94/2 The before-mentioned assumption..needs to be questioned. the mind > language > speech > [adjective] > commenting or mentioning > aforementioned a1325 (2011) v. 19 In þe writ of mort de auncestre, ant in oþer writes biforenempde. c1443 R. Pecock (1927) 433 If þese now bifore named persoones hadden lyued so long. 1467 in S. Tymms (1850) 48 The ferme of the seide londys, medews, and pasture bee for namyd. a1626 F. Bacon New Atlantis in (1658) 12 All the Nations beforenamed. 1702 181 In case the said Constable or other Officer shall refuse or Neglect to give his assistance in manner as before named, [etc.]. 1864 13 Oct. A dry chapter on the before-named science. 1927 Aug. 34/1 In a radio set the operator desires to pick up the tune or, as before named, the regular wave. 1997 28 364 The later generations..interpreted the representation..as an idealized entity (like some of the beforenamed persons had already done). the mind > language > speech > [adjective] > commenting or mentioning > aforementioned 1703 iii. 308 Which is in great measure accomplished already, as before noticed. 1767 96/2 Orders were issued immediately for exiling the superiors of the before noticed colleges and convents from Rome. 1870 E. Foss 269/1 Roger Fitz-Richard, a grandson of the before-noticed Eustace Fitz-John. 1919 5 June 269/2 This merely illustrates the before-noticed fact that the Government..has not succeeded in convincing the people that Government control of insurance..is a good thing. 1981 H. A. Ironside (2006) 78 Daniel's experience with his accusers, as before noticed, emphasizes the same principle. the mind > language > speech > speech-making > recitation > [adjective] > recited before 1548 N. Bodrugan sig. e.viiiv Dauid was the first that of their kinges was erle of Huntyngdon, whiche was since all the homages of their kinges before recited. 1683 Decree Univ. Oxf. 21 July in R. Wodrow (1722) II. App. 101 We also order the before recited Books to be publickly burnt. 1786 E. Burke Articles of Charge against W. Hastings in (1815) XII. 399 In consequence of all the before-recited intrigues. 1851 14 219/2 It was further declared, that the said barque, her freight and cargo, were then assigned over for the security of the money taken up by the said L. H. Smith, for himself and the before-recited owner. 1915 II. 322 As before recited, the hearing on September 5th, 1913, was transformed into a general inquiry upon the subject of extensions of service. 1957 1 39 Wynne-Hughes charged the property to the plaintiff to secure £4,629 and interest subject to the first charge before recited. the mind > language > speech > [adjective] > commenting or mentioning > aforementioned 1556 J. Heywood Table sig. B iii The tales of the pearte spider & flie before tolde, do charge ech others part in such sort, that they cannot say which side is most dishonest. 1697 C. Leslie (ed. 2) 288 Like Fox's Apology beforetold. 1708 C. Leslie Fourth Dialogue 7 in It is easily answer'd by their being One God; whereby, as before told, all the Three Persons are Joint as as in their Natures, so in all their Operations. 1845 E. R. Hendriks II. ix. 162 Sensible minds will not weary at the before told tale. 1906 July 144 The only cause for his before-told disfavour with the King and the Parliament is held to be, either his great State, or his enjoyed endowments. 1992 A. Ravaglioli & A. Krajewski vi. 149/1 As before told, these could have been introduced either to control the adhesion strength on particular metallic alloy substrates or also to control the bioactivity. society > communication > writing > state of having been written > [adjective] > written before lOE (Rochester) ii. i. §3. 142 Gif hit hwa do, bete swa hit beforan awriten is.] a1382 (Douce 370) (1850) 2 Chron. xxx. 5 As in the lawe it is beforn writen [L. sicut lege praescriptum est]. 1608 G. Wilkins xi. sig. I2 Which when he beheld, and had read the Epitaph, as before written, his affection brake out into his eies. 1674 Plymouth Colony Rec. 25 Nov. in (1924) 26 84 The before written will of Capt: Willett should be heer recorded altho there is but one witness. 1742 J. Bell Will Feb. in (1915) 3 20 I do further appoint my friend Mr Joseph Carter one of the Ex'rs of this my before written last Will and testament. 1830 July 44/1 And if any one attempt to take away a stone, or to loosen it, let him be execrated with the before written curses! 1920 P. A. Macmahon in (2004) i. 6 The before-written identity. 2006 C. Barstow 145 In cases such as before written..they are conduits of energy from the web/the core to mainly those that subsist hugely above the Earth. b. the mind > possession > [adjective] > possessed > previously or formerly a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xl. 13 Pharao schall..restore þe in to þe before had gree [L. gradum pristinum]. C3. Prefixed to other parts of verbs and to verbal derivatives (mostly obsolete and esp. in Wyclif and Wycliffite works). [Frequently after Latin formations in either prae- pre- prefix or ante- ante- prefix.] the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (transitive)] > preclude c1449 R. Pecock (1860) 477 What euer religion lettith and biforbarrith. c1449 R. Pecock (1860) 478 Alle..letten and biforebarren, ȝhe, and forbeden thilk religioun be doon and vsid. the mind > will > intention > planning > [noun] a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Exod. xxi. 14 If ony man sleeth his neiȝbore bi biforecastyng [L. de industria]. the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (transitive)] OE (Northumbrian) vi. 33 Uiderunt eos abeuntes et..de omnibus ciuitatibus cucurrerunt illuc et peruenerunt [read concurrerunt illuc et preuenerunt] eos: gisegun hiæ gongende &..of allum cæstrum efnegiurnun ðider & biforacomon [OE Lindisf. beforegecuomon, OE West Saxon Gospels: Corpus Cambr. him beforan comon] hiæ. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. xiv. 31 As he knewȝ, hym strongly byfore cummen of the man [L. a viro praeventum]. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Dan. iv. 11 Bifore kitte [L. praecidite] ȝe the braunchis therof. the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [noun] > one who goes first or predecessor c1520 M. Nisbet (1903) II. Heb. vi. 20 The before gangare, Jesus [c1384 Wycliffite, E.V. forgoere, a1425 Wycliffite, L.V. bifore goere; L. praecursor]. the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)] > specifically a person > a person or his attributes for an effort a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms xvii. 33 God that befor girte [L. praecinxit] me with vertue. OE (Mercian) xxi. 31 Puplicani et meritrices praecedent uos in regno dei : æwisfirine & forlegnisse beforangæþ eow in rice Godes. OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz (Corpus Cambr. 191) lxxx. 327 Ðe gebyrað to hatenne, and him to hyrsumgenne; þu scealt beforangan, and hi ealle folgian. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms lxxxviii.15 Merci and treuthe shul beforgo [a1425 L.V. go bifore; L. praecedent] thi face. the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [noun] > one who goes first or predecessor c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Gal. i. 17 Nether I cam to Jerusalem to my bifore goeris [L. antecessores] apostlis. c1400 J. Wyclif (1871) III. 476 He ȝat is biforegoar be he as a servaunt. 1534 G. Joye tr. U. Zwingli f. 138 Mercye and trowthe are thy before goers. the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Rom. iii. 25 Remiscioun of bifore goynge [L. praecedentium] synnes. a1676 M. Hale (1677) i. iv. 99 Somewhat which hath been before said touching the Question before-going. 1767 H. Vanssittart 91 Translation of an order to the Zemindars, under the seal of the Committee, in consequence of the beforegoing order from the Nabob. 1830 J. Sega iii. 87 In the before going chapter, I have shown, I believe, that some offences ought to be punished as the physical causes of duels. 1901 Boilermakers' Society's New Rules §6, in E. A. Pratt (1904) 56 Should it be found that the number of lads entered in any branch Registration Book exceed the number allowed in rule, they shall have power to call upon that branch or branches to call a Meeting of their members with the object of reducing the number of apprentices to the before-going limit. 2005 D. G. Shchukin & D. V. Sviridov in M. Nuñez 116 The discussions of the beforegoing sections can be summarized as follows. the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)] a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms lxxxviii. 5 In to withoute ende I shal beforgreithe [L. praeparabo] thi seed. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms lxxxviii. 15 Riȝtwisnesse and dom beforgreithing [L. praeparatio] of thi sete. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > foresee or foreknow [verb (transitive)] a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Wisd. xix. 1 God bifore knew [L. praenoscens] also the thingis to comynge. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > [noun] c1384 (Royal) (1850) 2 Pet. i. 16 The vertu and prescience, or bifore knowing [L. praesentiam]. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xxxiii. 23 In alle thi werkes beforn passende [L. praecellens] be thou [a1425 L.V. be thou souereyn]. the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [noun] > one who goes first a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xxxiii. 2 I schall sende anaungell þi befor renner [L. praecursorum]. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > predict, foretell [verb (transitive)] OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. iii.103 He þa se Godes wer..heom beforansæde [L. praedixit], þæt his þeawum ne mihton geþwærigean þa þeawas þara gebroðra. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. viii. 19 Lo now y byfore sey [L. praedico] to þe, þat otterleche þou shalt perysche. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xlviii. 5 I befornseide [L. praedixi] to thee fro thanne, er thei camen I shewede to thee. 1878 W. Marshall iii. 33 [Old English] foresaga, [modern synonym] prophet, [explanation] a before-sayer. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > foresee [verb (intransitive)] a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms cxxxviii. 4 Alle my weies thou beforn seȝe [a1425 L.V. hast bifor seien; L. praevidisti]. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Eccles. iv. 13 That kan not bifore se [L. providere] in to tyme to comynge. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prefiguration > prefigure [verb (intransitive)] OE xxxvi.13 Prospicit quod ueniet dies eius : beforan sceawað þæt cymeþ dæg his. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xli. 11 A sweuen befor schewing of þingeȝ þat ben to comme [L. somnium praesagum futurorum]. society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (intransitive)] > sing before a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xv. 21 With þe which sche beforesong [L. praecinebat]. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Psalms cxlvi. 7 Bifore synge ȝe [L. praecinite] to the Lord. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > inspired prophecy > [noun] > a prophet or seer c1400 (Royal) (1850) Exod. vii. 1 Gloss. Profete, that is, interpretour ether biforspekere. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms xxxv. 11 Befor strecche [L. praetende] thi mercy to men. the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > precede or come before [verb (transitive)] > anticipate or forestall a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms lxxviii. 8 Soone shul befor taken [L. anticipent] vs thi mercies. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > [noun] > preview, foretaste 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. FFFi A before tastyng of the ioye and glory of heuen. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > predict, foretell [verb (transitive)] a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms xlix. 6 Heuenes shuln his riȝtwisnes before telle [L. adnuntiabunt]. the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > that which is unknown > [adjective] > previously unknown 1612 J. Cotta i. i. 5 Let it be noted how many strange & before vnknowne diseases haue crept in vnnaturally. 1743 J. Grove II. 32 While his Fleets were performing these glorious Exploits, in the before unknown Parts of the World, he applied himself in keeping his Kingdom in Peace at Home and Abroad. 1825 J. Bentham 123 A new and before-unknown splendour. 1920 22 99 My incursion into the before unknown field of microscopy. 2009 H. Obendorf ii. 60 Composers give performers a before-unknown freedom of interpretation. 1883 2 May 147/3 He..looks sadder than the ‘before-using-portrait’ of an anti-lean advertisement. 1890 Oct. 356/1 I'm a-working as a travelling advertisement for a soap firm. I'm the ‘Before Using’ card, and my partner around the corner represents the ‘After Using’ end of the combination. 1919 P. G. Wodehouse iv. 54 A fellow with the appearance of a before-using advertisement of an antifat medicine. society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > outwork a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xxvi. 1 The wal and the bifor walling [L. antemurale]. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > warning of imminent danger or evil > warn (a person) of imminent danger or evil [verb (transitive)] > give warning of a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Wisd. xviii. 19 The viseouns..these thingus biforn warneden [L. praemonebant]. the world > space > relative position > front > be in front of [verb (transitive)] > spread in front of a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job xxxvi. 28 The cloudis..that before weuen [L. prætexunt] alle thingus theraboue. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > [noun] 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in f. ccclvi/2 In the chapitre of goddes beforne wetyng..al these maters apertely maye ben founden. C4. Prefixed to underived adjectives. the world > plants > by age or cycles > [adjective] > ripe or ripened > ripening or becoming ripe > ripening or flowering early a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Num. xiii. 21 Þe byfore ripe [a1425 Corpus Oxf. before rijp; L. praecoquae] grapys. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  adv.prep.conj.n.eOE |
