Definition/Meaning of before

• English - Preposition: before Earlier than (in time). I want this done before Monday . Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Before this treatise can become of use , two points are necessary . In front of in space . He stood before me . We sat before the fire to warm ourselves . John Milton (1608-1674) His angel , who shall go / Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire . 1909 , Archibald Marshall , The Squire's Daughter ,…
• English - Adverb: before ( not comparable ) At an earlier time . I've never done this before . In advance . At the front end . 1896 , Hilaire Belloc, The Bad Child’s Book of Beasts , “The Elephant”: When people call this beast to mind , They marvel more and more At such a little tail behind , So LARGE a trunk before . Synonyms ( at an earlier time ) : previously ( in advance ) : ahead ( at the front end ) : in…
• English - Conjunction: before in advance of the time when ( informal ) rather or sooner than Synonyms ( rather than ) : lest Translations
• English - Etymology: From Middle English before (adverb and preposition), from Old English beforan , from be- + foran ( “ before ” ), from fore , from Proto-Germanic , from Proto-Indo-European .
• English - Pronunciation: ( Received Pronunciation ) enPR: bĭfô' , IPA (key) : /bɪˈfɔː/ ( US ) enPR: bĭfôr' , IPA (key) : /bɪˈfɔːr/ , /bəˈfɔːr/ Hyphenation: be‧fore Rhymes: -ɔː(r)