Be‐fore″, adv. 1. 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.
2. In advance. “I come before to tell you.” Shak.
3. In time past; previously; already.
You tell me, mother, what I knew before.
Dryden.
4. 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.