beforehandadv.

Brit.

/bᵻˈfɔːhand/, U.S.

/bəˈfɔrˌhænd/,

/biˈfɔrˌhænd/

Forms: Middle English beforhand, Middle English befornhonde, Middle English biforand, Middle English biforehand, Middle English biforenhond, Middle English biforhand, Middle English biforhond, Middle English bifornhand, Middle English bifornhond, Middle English bifornhoond, Middle English biuorehond, Middle English biuorenhond, Middle English byforehond, Middle English byforehonde, Middle English byforhand, Middle English–1500s beforehonde, Middle English–1500s byforehand, Middle English–1600s beforehande, Middle English– beforehand, 1500s beeforehande, 1500s–1600s beeforehand; Scottish pre-1700 beforehande, pre-1700 beforhand, pre-1700 1700s– beforehand. N.E.D. (1887) also records a form Middle English biforen honde.

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding; modelled on a French lexical item. Etymons: before prep., hand n.

Etymology: < before prep. + hand n., in later use perhaps partly after Anglo-Norman avantmain in advance (c1285 or earlier, both in specific use with reference to payment and in general use), Old French avant les mains in advance (1295), Anglo-Norman and Middle French avant la main in advance, previously (a1321 or earlier; frequently with reference to payment; French †avant la main in advance). Compare aforehand adv., forehand adj. 2.Further structural parallels in other European languages. Compare classical Latin prae manū , prae manibus ‘at hand, in readiness, in hand’, also used in a Middle English context in sense 1b: c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iv. l. 301 Ich halde hym ouer-hardy oþer elles nouht trewe Þat pre manibus ys payed. Compare also Anglo-Norman devant la main , devant main (with reference to payment) on the spot, in cash (end of the 13th cent. or earlier), in advance (a1321 or earlier). Occasional synonymous formations in English. Compare beforehands , alteration of beforehand adv., probably partly after adverbs ending in -s suffix¹, and partly after classical Latin prae manibus :c1425 tr. J. Arderne Treat. Fistula (Sloane 6) (1910) 15 Of whiche couenaunt..take he þe half byfore handez [L. præ manibus].a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 304 The..Abbesse and Covent yaf hym vj. shillings..before handys.1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Before handes, Præ manibus, Præ manu. Auant la main. Compare also Older Scots (rare) before the hand ( < before prep. + the adj. + hand n., perhaps after Middle French avant la main):?a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Sheep & Dog l. 1233 in Poems (1981) 50 Ane soume I payit haue befoir the hand. A presumed adjectival use. N.E.D. (1887) included an obsolete and rare adjectival sense, ‘ready, prepared’, illustrated by the following quot.:1692 R. L'Estrange Fables vi. 6 What's a Man's Contending with Insuperable Difficulties, but the Rolling of Sisiphus's Stone up the Hill, which is soon before-hand, to Return upon him again? This form of the quotation also appears in Johnson (1755) and some other dictionaries. However another state of the 1692 text reads, more convincingly, ‘is sure before-hand’, making this a use of the adverb. Word division in early use. In early use frequently written as two words. (Word division in Middle English examples below often reflects the editorial choices of modern editors of texts, rather than the practice of the manuscripts.)

1. Ahead of something in time, in advance; in anticipation of or in a way connected with a later event.

a. Generally.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adverb] > in advance or beforehand

yeteOE

forea1225

beforehand?c1225

alreadyc1300

forrow1489

aforehanda1500

sincea1556

tofore1597

forwarda1604

preventively1646

anticipatelya1677

ahead1835

anticipatively1864

anticipatorily1878

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 158 Habeoð þe lasse tomeanen þet ha biforen hond leorneð hare meoster to makien grim chere.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xiii. 3 He was torned aȝeyn..vnto þe place in þe which befornhond [a1425 Corpus Oxf. biforhond; L. prius] he had fitchid a tabernacle.

1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) 2 Cor. ix. 5 To come before honde [c1384 E.V. bifore] vnto you for to prepare youre good blessynge.

1551 R. Record Pathway to Knowl. Pref. He..was so skylfull in Astronomie, and coulde tell before hande of Eclipses.

1611 Bible (King James) Mark xiii. 11 Take no thought before hand what ye shall speake.

1675 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 10 490 That useful instrument the Baroscope, telling the changes of the weather beforehand.

1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 86. ⁋1 I thought it proper to acquaint you before-hand..that you might not be surpriz'd therewith.

1789 Parson's Wife 281 I should have had notice a week beforehand, to prepare myself for the affecting interview.

1850 C. Dickens Let. 9 Dec. (1988) VI. 228 It is not possible for him to say beforehand..what it will cost.

1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust I. iv. 94 Prepare beforehand for your part.

1936 A. Christie ABC Murders xv. 112 This man must have been spying out the land beforehand and discovered your brother's habit of taking an evening stroll.

1992 N.Y. Times 26 Mar. a23/6 A pre-appointment would be presumptuous, but voters should know beforehand what sort of First Ladyship is in store.

b. spec. In reference to money transactions. Also in figurative contexts.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > payment > [adverb] > in advance

beforehandc1325

upfront1972

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 10028 (MED) Þe hundred þousend marc were ipaid biuore hond.

1445 in J. D. Marwick & R. Renwick Charters rel. Glasgow (1906) II. 440 A certane sowm..beforehand..payit be the said Davy and in myne use turnit.

1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. E7 To pay a yeere or two yeeres rent before hande.

1638 A. Hodges tr. Achilles Tatius Loves of Clitophon & Leucippe 115 You shall have halfe your pay beforehand.

1659 P. Heylyn Examen Historicum ii. 145 Before which Agreement as to the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant by all the Subjects of both Kingdoms, and the payment of Advance-Money beforehand to the Sum of an hundred thousand pounds, the Scots resolv'd not to stir a foot in their way towards England.

1725 ‘H. D.’ Life J. Wilde 40 Mr. Wild..told him, that if he wou'd leave ten Guineas, he might have the Chair the next Day; the Man made some Difficulty of leaving the Money before-hand.

1831 J. A. St. John Lives Celebrated Travellers I. 214 These kind offices were uniformly repaid with abundant flattery, if not with gratitude; and the skilful practitioners invariably discharged a portion of the debt beforehand.

1863 G. O. Trevelyan Dawk Bungalow ii. 37 I was foolish enough to pay these hurrumzarders beforehand.

1919 Southwestern Reporter 212 733/2 I want you to help me sell it, and when we sell it I will pay the note; if I get the money beforehand I will pay it beforehand.

2010 A. Amend Stations West iv. 49 He pays beforehand, puts the coins discreetly on the dresser behind the vase of fake flowers.

2. (Without the idea of anticipation or connection.) Before the time in question, previously. Relatively rare in later use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adverb]

erea900

beforeeOE

forec1000

toforec1175

therebeforec1200

toforehand1258

forne toc1275

orc1275

andersitha1300

alreadyc1300

rather?1316

beforehandc1330

erstc1330

aforec1350

theretoforea1375

aforehanda1387

forthwitha1400

forwitha1400

or?a1400

ereward14..

toforetimec1400

aforetimes1429

aforetime1433

afore seasons1463

heretoforetime1481

forouth1487

aforrow?a1513

beforrow1568

paravant1590

antecedently1593

formerly1596

precedently1611

preveniently1633

preallably1652

previously1655

precedaneously1657

somewhiles1657

antecedaneously1661

aft1674

prior1675

anteriorly1681

antecedent1690

previous1712

priorly1742

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 5496 (MED) As y ȝou seyd bifornhand.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxviii. 19 Þe cyte Bethell, þat befornhonde [a1425 Corpus Oxf. bifornhoond; L. prius] was clepid Luza.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3393 His sede suld multipli, Als godd him had biforand [a1400 Vesp. be-for, Fairf. be-fore, Trin. Cambr. to fore] hiht.

1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) iv. i. f. lviii The Appel..was hanged vpon this drye tree, whiche that grewe before hand vpon this grene florisshynge tree.

1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 186 As I haue sayde ofte before hande.

1701 F. Atterbury Additions to 1st Ed. Rights Eng. Convocation 49 The Clergy had never beforehand so apply'd it.

1835 Q. Jrnl. Agric. 5 No. 28. 620 An extra 2 qrs. 22 lb. are added to the quantity as beforehand directed to be used.

1854 L. P. Hopkins Guiding Star 167 He had told them so many times beforehand that he should rise.

2010 Daily Tel. 3 Feb. 10/5 Women's memories remained as good during pregnancy as they had been beforehand.

†3. In or into a condition of having more than enough to meet present demands or future contingencies; to have (also get) beforehand: to possess, acquire, more than enough to meet present demands or future contingencies. See also to be beforehand in the world, to be beforehand with the world at world n. Phrases 16b. Obsolete.Passing into adjectival use.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > management of money > solvency > be solvent [verb (intransitive)]

able to tine or win1340

to have (also get) beforehand1526

to keep (also hold, etc.) one's head above water1608

to pay one's way1786

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. RRiii He wyll..labour dilygently, to bring hym selfe beforehande agayne, and to recouer his losse.

1591 G. Fletcher Of Russe Common Wealth iii. f. 9^v [They] regard not to lay vp any thing, or to haue it before hand.

a1645 D. Featley in T. Fuller Abel Redevivus (1651) 484 He brought the Colledge much before hand, which before..was very much impoverished.

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 450. ⁋3 Having little or nothing before~hand, and living from Hand to Mouth.

a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) i. 45 I now began to think of getting a little Money beforehand.

1849 C. Dickens David Copperfield (1850) xi. 121 ‘And then,’ said Mr. Micawber,..‘I shall, please Heaven, begin to be beforehand with the world,..if—in short, if anything turns up.’

Phrases

to be beforehand with: to act in anticipation of; to act early with regard to; to be prepared for; to outstrip or forestall in action; see also to be beforehand with the world at world n. Phrases 16b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > occur earlier or go before [verb (intransitive)] > act in advance or anticipate

to be beforehand with1574

to take time, opportunity, etc. by the forelock1589

proact1956

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > precede or come before [verb (transitive)] > anticipate or forestall

before-takea1382

preventc1425

devance1485

prevenea1500

lurch1530

to take before the bounda1556

to be aforehand with1570

to be beforehand with1574

to meet halfwaya1586

preoccupate1588

forestall1589

fore-run1591

surprise1591

antedate1595

foreprise1597

preoccupy1607

preoccupy1638

pre-act1655

anticipatea1682

obviate1712

to head off1841

beat1847

to beat out1893

pre-empt1957

1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Job (new ed.) cxxvi. 647/2 When he forgiueth vs our sinnes, why is it? Not for that we are worthy of it: not for that we are able too bee beforehande with him [Fr. non pas que nous le puissions preuenir].

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) v. vii. 111 Let vs pay the time: but needfull woe, Since it hath beene before hand with our greefes.

1618 S. Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. 30 Then was hee before hand with Pope Alexander..promising likewise to hold it of the Apostolique Sea.

1701 W. Wooton Hist. Rome i. 203 If you are not before-hand with them, you will perish.

1734 J. Dryden & N. Lee Duke of Guise v. i. 71 in N. Lee Dramatick Wks. II. My Time is all ta'en up on Usury; I never am beforehand with my Hours, But every one has Work before it comes.

1778 H. Brooke Charitable Assoc. i. ii. 212 I see Mr. Gadabout has been beforehand with me.

1791 W. Huntington Funeral of Arminianism in Wks. (1811) X. 351 The ancient Prophets were often beforehand with their funerals. The Prophet Isaiah preached the funeral sermon of the King of Babylon some hundred years before he was born.

1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters ix. 222 Like Napoleon, he knew the value of being beforehand with an enemy.

1884 Pop. Sci. May 82 Mr. Spencer must really help us to think further on than he has yet done; or he will find the Christian clergy..will be beforehand with him.

1941 H. F. Stewart Secret of Pascal i. 25 His sister..was beforehand with him and had set him an example.

2010 D. Schneider & C. J. Schneider First Ladies (ed. 3) 375/2 She came across..as a brisk, intelligent, efficient pragmatist who likes to be beforehand with her work.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	beforehand
释义	beforehandadv. Brit. /bᵻˈfɔːhand/, U.S. /bəˈfɔrˌhænd/, /biˈfɔrˌhænd/ Forms: Middle English beforhand, Middle English befornhonde, Middle English biforand, Middle English biforehand, Middle English biforenhond, Middle English biforhand, Middle English biforhond, Middle English bifornhand, Middle English bifornhond, Middle English bifornhoond, Middle English biuorehond, Middle English biuorenhond, Middle English byforehond, Middle English byforehonde, Middle English byforhand, Middle English–1500s beforehonde, Middle English–1500s byforehand, Middle English–1600s beforehande, Middle English– beforehand, 1500s beeforehande, 1500s–1600s beeforehand; Scottish pre-1700 beforehande, pre-1700 beforhand, pre-1700 1700s– beforehand. N.E.D. (1887) also records a form Middle English biforen honde. Origin: Formed within English, by compounding; modelled on a French lexical item. Etymons: before prep., hand n. Etymology: < before prep. + hand n., in later use perhaps partly after Anglo-Norman avantmain in advance (c1285 or earlier, both in specific use with reference to payment and in general use), Old French avant les mains in advance (1295), Anglo-Norman and Middle French avant la main in advance, previously (a1321 or earlier; frequently with reference to payment; French †avant la main in advance). Compare aforehand adv., forehand adj. 2.Further structural parallels in other European languages. Compare classical Latin prae manū , prae manibus ‘at hand, in readiness, in hand’, also used in a Middle English context in sense 1b: c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iv. l. 301 Ich halde hym ouer-hardy oþer elles nouht trewe Þat pre manibus ys payed. Compare also Anglo-Norman devant la main , devant main (with reference to payment) on the spot, in cash (end of the 13th cent. or earlier), in advance (a1321 or earlier). Occasional synonymous formations in English. Compare beforehands , alteration of beforehand adv., probably partly after adverbs ending in -s suffix¹, and partly after classical Latin prae manibus :c1425 tr. J. Arderne Treat. Fistula (Sloane 6) (1910) 15 Of whiche couenaunt..take he þe half byfore handez [L. præ manibus].a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 304 The..Abbesse and Covent yaf hym vj. shillings..before handys.1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Before handes, Præ manibus, Præ manu. Auant la main. Compare also Older Scots (rare) before the hand ( < before prep. + the adj. + hand n., perhaps after Middle French avant la main):?a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Sheep & Dog l. 1233 in Poems (1981) 50 Ane soume I payit haue befoir the hand. A presumed adjectival use. N.E.D. (1887) included an obsolete and rare adjectival sense, ‘ready, prepared’, illustrated by the following quot.:1692 R. L'Estrange Fables vi. 6 What's a Man's Contending with Insuperable Difficulties, but the Rolling of Sisiphus's Stone up the Hill, which is soon before-hand, to Return upon him again? This form of the quotation also appears in Johnson (1755) and some other dictionaries. However another state of the 1692 text reads, more convincingly, ‘is sure before-hand’, making this a use of the adverb. Word division in early use. In early use frequently written as two words. (Word division in Middle English examples below often reflects the editorial choices of modern editors of texts, rather than the practice of the manuscripts.) 1. Ahead of something in time, in advance; in anticipation of or in a way connected with a later event. a. Generally. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adverb] > in advance or beforehand yeteOE forea1225 beforehand?c1225 alreadyc1300 forrow1489 aforehanda1500 sincea1556 tofore1597 forwarda1604 preventively1646 anticipatelya1677 ahead1835 anticipatively1864 anticipatorily1878 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 158 Habeoð þe lasse tomeanen þet ha biforen hond leorneð hare meoster to makien grim chere. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xiii. 3 He was torned aȝeyn..vnto þe place in þe which befornhond [a1425 Corpus Oxf. biforhond; L. prius] he had fitchid a tabernacle. 1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) 2 Cor. ix. 5 To come before honde [c1384 E.V. bifore] vnto you for to prepare youre good blessynge. 1551 R. Record Pathway to Knowl. Pref. He..was so skylfull in Astronomie, and coulde tell before hande of Eclipses. 1611 Bible (King James) Mark xiii. 11 Take no thought before hand what ye shall speake. View more context for this quotation 1675 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 10 490 That useful instrument the Baroscope, telling the changes of the weather beforehand. 1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 86. ⁋1 I thought it proper to acquaint you before-hand..that you might not be surpriz'd therewith. 1789 Parson's Wife 281 I should have had notice a week beforehand, to prepare myself for the affecting interview. 1850 C. Dickens Let. 9 Dec. (1988) VI. 228 It is not possible for him to say beforehand..what it will cost. 1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust I. iv. 94 Prepare beforehand for your part. 1936 A. Christie ABC Murders xv. 112 This man must have been spying out the land beforehand and discovered your brother's habit of taking an evening stroll. 1992 N.Y. Times 26 Mar. a23/6 A pre-appointment would be presumptuous, but voters should know beforehand what sort of First Ladyship is in store. b. spec. In reference to money transactions. Also in figurative contexts. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > [adverb] > in advance beforehandc1325 upfront1972 c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 10028 (MED) Þe hundred þousend marc were ipaid biuore hond. 1445 in J. D. Marwick & R. Renwick Charters rel. Glasgow (1906) II. 440 A certane sowm..beforehand..payit be the said Davy and in myne use turnit. 1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. E7 To pay a yeere or two yeeres rent before hande. 1638 A. Hodges tr. Achilles Tatius Loves of Clitophon & Leucippe 115 You shall have halfe your pay beforehand. 1659 P. Heylyn Examen Historicum ii. 145 Before which Agreement as to the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant by all the Subjects of both Kingdoms, and the payment of Advance-Money beforehand to the Sum of an hundred thousand pounds, the Scots resolv'd not to stir a foot in their way towards England. 1725 ‘H. D.’ Life J. Wilde 40 Mr. Wild..told him, that if he wou'd leave ten Guineas, he might have the Chair the next Day; the Man made some Difficulty of leaving the Money before-hand. 1831 J. A. St. John Lives Celebrated Travellers I. 214 These kind offices were uniformly repaid with abundant flattery, if not with gratitude; and the skilful practitioners invariably discharged a portion of the debt beforehand. 1863 G. O. Trevelyan Dawk Bungalow ii. 37 I was foolish enough to pay these hurrumzarders beforehand. 1919 Southwestern Reporter 212 733/2 I want you to help me sell it, and when we sell it I will pay the note; if I get the money beforehand I will pay it beforehand. 2010 A. Amend Stations West iv. 49 He pays beforehand, puts the coins discreetly on the dresser behind the vase of fake flowers. 2. (Without the idea of anticipation or connection.) Before the time in question, previously. Relatively rare in later use. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adverb] erea900 beforeeOE forec1000 toforec1175 therebeforec1200 toforehand1258 forne toc1275 orc1275 andersitha1300 alreadyc1300 rather?1316 beforehandc1330 erstc1330 aforec1350 theretoforea1375 aforehanda1387 forthwitha1400 forwitha1400 or?a1400 ereward14.. toforetimec1400 aforetimes1429 aforetime1433 afore seasons1463 heretoforetime1481 forouth1487 aforrow?a1513 beforrow1568 paravant1590 antecedently1593 formerly1596 precedently1611 preveniently1633 preallably1652 previously1655 precedaneously1657 somewhiles1657 antecedaneously1661 aft1674 prior1675 anteriorly1681 antecedent1690 previous1712 priorly1742 c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 5496 (MED) As y ȝou seyd bifornhand. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxviii. 19 Þe cyte Bethell, þat befornhonde [a1425 Corpus Oxf. bifornhoond; L. prius] was clepid Luza. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3393 His sede suld multipli, Als godd him had biforand [a1400 Vesp. be-for, Fairf. be-fore, Trin. Cambr. to fore] hiht. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) iv. i. f. lviii The Appel..was hanged vpon this drye tree, whiche that grewe before hand vpon this grene florisshynge tree. 1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 186 As I haue sayde ofte before hande. 1701 F. Atterbury Additions to 1st Ed. Rights Eng. Convocation 49 The Clergy had never beforehand so apply'd it. 1835 Q. Jrnl. Agric. 5 No. 28. 620 An extra 2 qrs. 22 lb. are added to the quantity as beforehand directed to be used. 1854 L. P. Hopkins Guiding Star 167 He had told them so many times beforehand that he should rise. 2010 Daily Tel. 3 Feb. 10/5 Women's memories remained as good during pregnancy as they had been beforehand. †3. In or into a condition of having more than enough to meet present demands or future contingencies; to have (also get) beforehand: to possess, acquire, more than enough to meet present demands or future contingencies. See also to be beforehand in the world, to be beforehand with the world at world n. Phrases 16b. Obsolete.Passing into adjectival use. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > management of money > solvency > be solvent [verb (intransitive)] able to tine or win1340 to have (also get) beforehand1526 to keep (also hold, etc.) one's head above water1608 to pay one's way1786 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. RRiii He wyll..labour dilygently, to bring hym selfe beforehande agayne, and to recouer his losse. 1591 G. Fletcher Of Russe Common Wealth iii. f. 9^v [They] regard not to lay vp any thing, or to haue it before hand. a1645 D. Featley in T. Fuller Abel Redevivus (1651) 484 He brought the Colledge much before hand, which before..was very much impoverished. 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 450. ⁋3 Having little or nothing before~hand, and living from Hand to Mouth. a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) i. 45 I now began to think of getting a little Money beforehand. 1849 C. Dickens David Copperfield (1850) xi. 121 ‘And then,’ said Mr. Micawber,..‘I shall, please Heaven, begin to be beforehand with the world,..if—in short, if anything turns up.’ Phrases to be beforehand with: to act in anticipation of; to act early with regard to; to be prepared for; to outstrip or forestall in action; see also to be beforehand with the world at world n. Phrases 16b. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > occur earlier or go before [verb (intransitive)] > act in advance or anticipate to be beforehand with1574 to take time, opportunity, etc. by the forelock1589 proact1956 the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > precede or come before [verb (transitive)] > anticipate or forestall before-takea1382 preventc1425 devance1485 prevenea1500 lurch1530 to take before the bounda1556 to be aforehand with1570 to be beforehand with1574 to meet halfwaya1586 preoccupate1588 forestall1589 fore-run1591 surprise1591 antedate1595 foreprise1597 preoccupy1607 preoccupy1638 pre-act1655 anticipatea1682 obviate1712 to head off1841 beat1847 to beat out1893 pre-empt1957 1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Job (new ed.) cxxvi. 647/2 When he forgiueth vs our sinnes, why is it? Not for that we are worthy of it: not for that we are able too bee beforehande with him [Fr. non pas que nous le puissions preuenir]. a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) v. vii. 111 Let vs pay the time: but needfull woe, Since it hath beene before hand with our greefes. View more context for this quotation 1618 S. Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. 30 Then was hee before hand with Pope Alexander..promising likewise to hold it of the Apostolique Sea. 1701 W. Wooton Hist. Rome i. 203 If you are not before-hand with them, you will perish. 1734 J. Dryden & N. Lee Duke of Guise v. i. 71 in N. Lee Dramatick Wks. II. My Time is all ta'en up on Usury; I never am beforehand with my Hours, But every one has Work before it comes. 1778 H. Brooke Charitable Assoc. i. ii. 212 I see Mr. Gadabout has been beforehand with me. 1791 W. Huntington Funeral of Arminianism in Wks. (1811) X. 351 The ancient Prophets were often beforehand with their funerals. The Prophet Isaiah preached the funeral sermon of the King of Babylon some hundred years before he was born. 1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters ix. 222 Like Napoleon, he knew the value of being beforehand with an enemy. 1884 Pop. Sci. May 82 Mr. Spencer must really help us to think further on than he has yet done; or he will find the Christian clergy..will be beforehand with him. 1941 H. F. Stewart Secret of Pascal i. 25 His sister..was beforehand with him and had set him an example. 2010 D. Schneider & C. J. Schneider First Ladies (ed. 3) 375/2 She came across..as a brisk, intelligent, efficient pragmatist who likes to be beforehand with her work. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adv.?c1225
随便看	grand-maund grand-nephew grand-niece grand-offspring grand-patron grand-pupil grand-scale grand-sounding grand-student grand-uncle grandad grandad collar grandad shirt grandada grandaddies grandaddy grandads grandaired grandam grandam earth grandam gold grandam nature grandam words grandame grandames