afore
adverb or conjunction or preposition
ə-ˈfȯr 
chiefly dialectal
: before
Synonyms
- ahead of
- before
- ere
- fore [chiefly dialect]
- 'fore
- of
- previous to
- prior to
- to
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Middle English aforen, aforn, afore, going back to Old English onforan, from on on entry 1 + foran "(from) in front, before," from fore "in front, fore entry 2" + -an, -ane "from (a place)" (going back to Germanic *-na) — more at aft entry 1
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
afore 1 of 2
adverb
as in earlier
so as to precede something in order of time some young boys raced afore to tell onlookers that the parade was about to kick off Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- earlier
- before
- ahead
- already
- early
- previously
- beforehand
- in advance
- antecedently
- now
- formerly
- shortly
- anteriorly
- first
- soon
- preliminarily
- prematurely
- first off
- a priori
- before long
- erelong
- presently
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- afterwards
- later
- afterward
- after
- next
- subsequently
- behind
- by and by
afore
2 of 2preposition
1
as in before
earlier than my father, his father, and even his father afore him farmed this land Synonyms & Similar Words
- before
- to
- ere
- 'fore
- of
- till
- previous to
- prior to
- until
- fore
- ahead of
- in advance of
- up to
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- after
- following
- since
- next
- next to
2
as in 'fore
preceding in space a majestic sailing ship going full speed afore the wind Synonyms & Similar Words
- before
- 'fore
- against
- fore
- ahead of
- in front of
- in advance of
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- after
- following