Before

Before Be*fore", prep. [OE. beforen, biforen, before, AS. beforan; pref. be- + foran, fore, before. See {Be-}, and {Fore}.] 1. In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house. [1913 Webster]

His angel, who shall go Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that. [1913 Webster]

Before Abraham was, I am. --John viii. 58. [1913 Webster]

Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

Note: Formerly before, in this sense, was followed by that. ``Before that Philip called thee . . . I saw thee.'' --John i. 48. [1913 Webster]

3. An advance of; farther onward, in place or time. [1913 Webster]

The golden age . . . is before us. --Carlyle. [1913 Webster]

4. Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than. [1913 Webster]

He that cometh after me is preferred before me. --John i. 15. [1913 Webster]

The eldest son is before the younger in succession. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]

5. In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing. [1913 Webster]

Abraham bowed down himself before the people. --Gen. xxiii. 12. [1913 Webster]

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord? --Micah vi. 6. [1913 Webster]

6. Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of. [1913 Webster]

If a suit be begun before an archdeacon. --Ayliffe. [1913 Webster]

7. Open for; free of access to; in the power of. [1913 Webster]

The world was all before them where to choose. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]