BEFORE


Meaning of BEFORE in English

I. bə̇ˈfō(ə)r, bē-, -ȯ(ə)r, -ōə, -ȯ(ə) adverb

Etymology: Middle English before, beforen, adverb & preposition, from Old English beforan, from be- + foran before, from fore — more at fore

1. : in advance : ahead

racing on before to give warning

the army encamped with its tanks covering the rear and some infantry units before

2. : in time past

he had known it before

: previously

two weeks before

: already

the names before mentioned

— often used with go

in terms of the experience that has gone before — C.E.Kellogg

3. : in the future : to come

forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching forth myself to those that are before — Phil 3:13 (Douay Version)

4. : earlier, sooner : until then

you'll get it tomorrow, not before

he was surprised at the news and said he hadn't known it before

II.  ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ preposition

Etymology: Middle English before, beforen

1.

a. : preceding (a point, turn, or incident in time) : earlier than

20 minutes before 12

returning before dark

making up his mind long before the meeting

b. : preceding (something or someone in a chronological series)

he lived in New York as did his father before him

2.

a. : in the presence of

speaking before the conference

: in sight or notice of

b. : face to face with : confronting

powerless before such restrictions

c. : in defiance of : in firm opposition to

before successful crime he stood unmoved … the inflexible judge of its manifest wrong — W.L.Sullivan

3.

a. : in advance of (someone or something moving in the same direction) : ahead of

destroyers zigzagging before a convoy

the captain going before his troops

b. : driven in front by

refugees before barbarian armies

: harassed by

fleeing before a storm

c. : in the same direction as the main force of

a ship running before a heavy sea

sailing before the wind

4.

a. : in a position facing, opposing, or close to : in front of

stand before the fire

b. : just preceding (as in a spatial series) : next to

the road to the left before the junction

: just in front of

5.

a. : at the disposal of : available to

the six candidates before the people

great sums of money were placed before the scientists

b. : in store for : awaiting

still thirty years of life before him — H.O.Taylor

a whole glorious summer was before the children

6.

a. : in the estimation of

make the Europeans lose face before the common people — Peggy Durdin

b. : according to the precepts, doctrines, or views emanating from or associated with

man and wife before God

a crime before the law

7.

a. : to be judged or acted on by

the case went before the court

a bill coming up before Congress

b. : under the official or formal consideration of

in order that there may be a debate, a definite proposal … must ordinarily be before the House — C.J.Friedrich

8. : occupying, inviting, or compelling the attention of

the problems before the American public

9.

a. : in greater esteem, significance, or value than

thou shalt have none other gods before me — Deut 5:7 (Authorized Version)

put profits before conscience

b. : more important than — used with else

he is before all else a gentleman

10. : in advance of : superior to

before all nations in cheap-car production

11. : as a result of : in consequence of

forests have dwindled before ax and saw — American Guide Series: Washington

these archaic people … disappeared suddenly, evidently before the pressure of a new people — R.W.Murray

12. : up to but not including or taking into account : exclusive of

his yearly income before taxes

III. conjunction

Etymology: Middle English before, beforen, from before, beforen, preposition

1. : earlier than the time when

before the year was out

— sometimes used archaically with a postpositive that

it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face — Acts 25:16 (ASV)

2. : sooner than

he will starve before he will steal

IV. conjunction

1. : so that … do not

get out of there before you get dirty

2. : until the time that

miles to go before I sleep — Robert Frost

3.

a. : or else … not

must be convicted before he can be removed from office

b. : or else

get out of here before I call a cop

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.