BEFO'RE, prep. [be and fore, that is by fore, near the fore part.]

1. In time preceding. You tell me what I knew before. – Dryden.
2. In time preceding, to the present, or to this time; hitherto; as, tumults then arose which before were unknown.
3. Further onward in place, in progress, or in front. Reaching forth to those things which are before. – Phil. iii.
4. In front; on the fore part. The battle was before and behind. – 2 Chron. xiii. In some of the examples of the use of before, which Johnson places under the adverb, the word is a preposition governing a sentence; as, “Before the hills appeared.” This is the real construction, however overlooked or misunderstood.

1. In front; on the side with the face, at any distance; used of persons. – Milton.
2. In presence of, with the idea of power, authority, respect. Abraham bowed before the people of the land. – Gen. xxiii. Wherewithal shall I come before the Lord? – Micah vi.
3. In sight of; as, before the face.
4. In the presence of, noting cognizance, or jurisdiction. Both parties shall come before the judge. – Ex. xxii.
5. In the power of, noting the right or ability to choose or possess; free to the choice. The world was all before them. – Milton. My land is before thee. – Gen. xx.
6. In front of any object; as, before the house, before the fire.
7. Preceding in time. Before I was afflicted, I went astray. – Ps. cxix. Before Abraham was, I am. – John viii. Here the preposition has a sentence following for an object.
8. In preference to. And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. – Gen. xlviii. Poverty is desirable before torments. – Taylor.
9. Superior; preceding in dignity. He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for he was before me. – John i.
10. Prior to; having prior right; preceding in order; as, the eldest son is before the younger in succession.
11. Previous to; in previous order; in order to. Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary. – Swift. [See No. 7.]
12. Before the wind, is to move in the direction of the wind by its impulse.

1. In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house.
   
   

   His angel, who shall go
   Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire.
   Milton.

2. On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; -- opposed to in the rear.
   
   

   The battle was before and behind.
   2 Chron. xiii. 14.

3. Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that.
   
   

   Before Abraham was, I am.
   John viii. 58.

   Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.
   Swift.

   * Formerly before, in this sense, was followed by that. "Before that Philip called thee . . . I saw thee." John i. 48.

4. In advance.
   
   
   "I come before to tell you." Shak.
5. An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.
   
   

   The golden age . . . is before us.
   Carlyle.

6. In time past; previously; already.
   
   

   You tell me, mother, what I knew before.
   Dryden.

7. Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than.
   
   

   He that cometh after me is preferred before me.
   John i. 15.

   The eldest son is before the younger in succession.
   Johnson.

8. Earlier; sooner than; until then.
   
   

   When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before.
   Shak.

   * Before is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, before-cited, before-mentioned; beforesaid.

9. In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.
   
   

   Abraham bowed down himself before the people.
   Gen. xxiii. 12.

   Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?
   Micah vi. 6.

10. Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.
    
    

    If a suit be begun before an archdeacon.
    Ayliffe.

11. Open for; free of access to; in the power of.
    
    

    The world was all before them where to choose.
    Milton.

    Before the mast (Naut.), as a common sailor, -- because the sailors live in the forecastle, forward of the foremast. -- Before the wind (Naut.), in the direction of the wind and by its impulse; having the wind aft.