adv. 1 previously, earlier, already, beforehand; formerly, in the past; once I have told you before, don't count your chickens 2 ahead, in advance, in front, in the forefront, first, in the vanguard, Colloq up front He let his wife walk before, as he knew the road was mined 3 ahead, in the future, to come Before lie the prospects of surrendering or dying
prep. 4 ahead of, in advance of, in front of, forward of The king indicated that the page should go before him 5 in front of; in the presence of The entire valley was spread out before me 6 preceding, previous or anterior to, prior to; on the eve of Before my departure I have to kiss Annie goodbye 7 in preference to, rather than, sooner than, more willingly than They said they would die before yielding
conj. 8 previous to or preceding the time when This was a nice place before the day-trippers arrived