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 ]

☞ 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 ]

adv. 1. On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; -- opposed to in the rear. [ 1913 Webster ]

The battle was before and behind. 2 Chron. xiii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In advance. “I come before to tell you.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In time past; previously; already. [ 1913 Webster ]

You tell me, mother, what I knew before. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Earlier; sooner than; until then. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Before is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, before-cited, before-mentioned; beforesaid. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Before + hand. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. In a state of anticipation ore preoccupation; in advance; -- often followed by with. [ 1913 Webster ]

Agricola . . . resolves to be beforehand with the danger. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The last cited author has been beforehand with me. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. By way of preparation, or preliminary; previously; aforetime. [ 1913 Webster ]

They may be taught beforehand the skill of speaking. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rich and much beforehand. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Formerly; aforetime. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. 2 Kings xiii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the preceding part of this (writing, document, book, etc.). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The popular name for a poem by Clement Clarke Moore titled A Visit from St. Nicholas, a popular poem with the theme of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) coming to bring gifts to children on Christmans eve. [ PJC ]

☞ The full text of the poem follows: T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;
And Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the luster of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer!, Now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid!, On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!!” As the dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too. And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes -- how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went staight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
And laying a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” [ PJC ]

{ } adv. Before that time; beforehand. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Many a winter therebiforn. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]