BEFORE (2)

before (2). Before, ad. sooner, in time pervious

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