before
before: conj., prep., & adv. --conj.
1 earlier than the time when (crawled before he walked).
2 rather than that (would starve before he stole). --prep.
1 a in front of (before her in the queue). b ahead of (crossed the line before him). c under the impulse of (recoil before the attack). d awaiting (the future before them).
2 earlier than; preceding (Lent comes before Easter).
3 rather than (death before dishonour).
4 a in the presence of (appear before the judge). b for the attention of (a plan put before the committee). --adv.
1 a earlier than the time in question; already (heard it before). b in the past (happened long before).
2 ahead (go before).
3 on the front (hit before and behind). Before Christ (of a date) reckoned backwards from the birth of Christ. before God a solemn oath meaning 'as God sees me'. before time see TIME . [OE beforan f. Gmc]
Most popular pairs with before
before sunset
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