Before

·adv In advance.

II. Before ·adv Earlier; sooner than; until then.

III. Before ·adv In time past; previously; already.

IV. Before ·prep Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.

V. Before ·prep Open for; free of access to; in the power of.

VI. Before ·prep An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.

VII. Before ·prep In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.

VIII. Before ·prep Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than.

IX. Before ·adv On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front;

— opposed to in the rear.

X. Before ·prep In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house.

XI. Before ·prep Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when;

— sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that.