fore 1
/fawr, fohr/ , adj.
1. situated at or toward the front, as compared with something else.
2. first in place, time, order, rank, etc.; forward; earlier.
3. Naut.
a. of or pertaining to a foremast.
b. noting a sail, yard, boom, etc., or any rigging belonging to a fore lower mast or to some upper mast of a foremast.
c. noting any stay running aft and upward to the head of a fore lower mast or to some specified upper mast of a foremast: fore topmast stay.
d. situated at or toward the bow of a vessel; forward.
adv.
4. Naut. at or toward the bow.
5. forward.
6. Obs. before.
7. fore and aft , Naut. in, at, or to both ends of a ship.
n.
8. the forepart of anything; front.
9. the fore , Naut. the foremast.
10. to the fore ,
a. into a conspicuous place or position; to or at the front.
b. at hand; ready; available.
c. still alive.
prep., conj.
11. Also, 'fore . Informal. before.
[ by construal of FORE- as an adj., hence nominalized; fore and aft perh. as trans. of D or LG; sense "before" (defs. 6, 11) perh. continuation of ME, OE fore in this sense, or as aph. form of AFORE ]
fore 2
/fawr, fohr/ , interj. Golf.
(used as a cry of warning to persons on a course who are in danger of being struck by the ball.)
[ 1875-80; prob. aph. var. of BEFORE ]