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