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before

 - 5 dictionary results

be⋅fore

  [bi-fawr, -fohr]
Use before in a Sentence
–preposition
1. previous to; earlier or sooner than: Phone me before noon.
2. in front of; ahead of; in advance of: his shadow advancing before him; She stood before the window.
3. ahead of; in the future of; awaiting: The golden age is before us.
4. in preference to; rather than: They would die before surrendering.
5. in precedence of, as in order or rank: We put freedom before wealth.
6. in the presence or sight of: to appear before an audience.
7. less than; until: used in indicating the exact time: It's ten before three.
8. under the jurisdiction or consideration of: He was summoned before a magistrate.
9. confronted by; in the face of: Before such wild accusations, he was too stunned to reply.
10. in the regard of: a crime before God and humanity.
11. under the overwhelming influence of: bending before the storm.
12. without figuring or deducting: income before deductions.
–adverb
13. in front; in advance; ahead: The king entered with macebearers walking before.
14. in time preceding; previously: If we'd known before, we'd have let you know.
15. earlier or sooner: Begin at noon, not before.
–conjunction
16. previous to the time when: Send the telegram before we go.
17. sooner than; rather than: I will die before I submit.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME beforen, OE beforan, equiv. to be by + foran before (fore fore 1 + -an adv. suffix)

Antonyms:
13. after, behind. 14. afterward. 15. later.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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be·fore   (bĭ-fôr', -fōr')   
adv.  

  1. Earlier in time: They called me the day before.

  2. In front; ahead.

prep.  

  1. Previous to in time; earlier than.

  2. In front of.

  3. In store for; awaiting: The young man's whole life lies before him.

  4. Into or in the presence of: She asked that the visitor be brought before her.

  5. Under the consideration or jurisdiction of: The case is now before the court.

  6. In a position superior to: The prince is before his brother in the line of succession.

conj.  

  1. In advance of the time when: See me before you leave.

  2. Rather than; sooner than: I will die before I will betray my country.


[Middle English bifore, from Old English beforan; see per1 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

before 
O.E. beforan, from P.Gmc. *bi- "by" + *forana "from the front," adv. derivative of *fora (see for). Beforehand is M.E., originally two words, specifically a reference to payment in advance. Contrasting before and after in illustrations is from Hogarth (1768).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: be·fore
Function: preposition
1 : in the presence of before me>
2 : to be judged or acted on by before the court> before Congress>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

before

In addition to the idioms beginning with before, also see cart before the horse; cast pearls before swine; look before you leap.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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