earlier, before
(adverb) earlier in time; previously; “I had known her before”; “as I said before”; “he called me the day before but your call had come even earlier”; “her parents had died four years earlier”; “I mentioned that problem earlier”
ahead, in front, before
(adverb) at or in the front; “I see the lights of a town ahead”; “the road ahead is foggy”; “staring straight ahead”; “we couldn’t see over the heads of the people in front”; “with the cross of Jesus marching on before”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
before
Earlier than (in time).
In front of in space.
In the presence of.
Under consideration, judgment, authority of (someone).
In store for, in the future of (someone).
In front of, according to a formal system of ordering items.
At a higher or greater position than, in a ranking.
• (earlier than in time): by, no later than, previous to, prior to, ere (obsolete)
• (in front of in space): ahead of, in front of
• (in front of according to an ordering system): ahead of
• (earlier than in time): after, later than
• (in front of in space): behind
• (in front of according to an ordering system): after
before (not comparable)
At an earlier time.
In advance.
At the front end.
• (at an earlier time): previously
• (in advance): ahead
• (at the front end): in front
• (at an earlier time): after
• (at the front end): behind
before
In advance of the time when.
(informal) Rather or sooner than.
• (rather than): lest
• borfee
Source: Wiktionary
Be*fore", prep. Etym: [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. His angel, who shall go Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire. Milton.
2. 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.
Note: Formerly before, in this sense, was followed by that. "Before that Philip called thee . . . I saw thee." John i. 48.
3. An advance of; farther onward, in place or time. The golden age . . . is before us. Carlyle.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of. If a suit be begun before an archdeacon. Ayliffe.
7. 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.
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.
Note: Before is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, before- cited, before-mentioned; beforesaid.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
23 November 2024
(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”
Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free. Studies from the National Institute of Health (US) have shown that virtually all decaf coffee types contain caffeine. A 236-ml (8-oz) cup of decaf coffee contains up to 7 mg of caffeine, whereas a regular cup provided 70-140 mg.
