SG Heritage Dictionary

Word of the Day: Catachrestical

Before [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. In time preceding.

2. You tell me what I knew before

3. In time preceding, to the present, or to this time; hitherto; as, tumults then arose which before were unknown.

4. Further onward in place, in progress, or in front.

5. Reaching forth to those things which are before Philippians 3:13 .

6. In front; on the fore part.

7. The battle was before and behind. 2 Chronicles 13:13 .

8. In some of the examples of the use of before which Johnson places under the adverb, the word is a preposition governing a sentence; as, 'Before the hills appeared.' This is the real construction, however overlooked or misunderstood.

Before [Preposition] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. In front; on the side with the face, at any distance; used of persons.

2. In presence of, with the idea of power, authority, respect.

3. Abraham bowed before the people of the land. Genesis 23:3 .

4. Wherewithal shall I come before the Lord. Micah 6:1 .

5. In sight of; as before the face.

6. In the presence of, noting cognizance of jurisdiction.

7. In the power of, noting the right or ability to choose or possess; free to the choice.

8. The world was all before them.

9. My land is before thee. Genesis 20:15 .

10. In front of any object; as before the house; before the fire.

11. Preceding in time.

12. Before I was afflicted, I went astray. Psalms 119:30 .

13. Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58 .

14. Here the preposition has a sentence following for an object.

15. In preference to.

16. And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Gen 48.

17. Poverty is desirable before torments.

18. Superior; preceding in dignity.

19. He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for he was before me. John Latin

20. Prior to; having prior right; preceding in order; as, the eldest son is before the younger in succession.

21. Previous to; in previous order; in order to.

22. Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.

23. before the wind, is to move in the direction of the wind by its impulse.

Before [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; -- opposed to in the rear.

2. In advance.

3. In time past; previously; already.

4. Earlier; sooner than; until then.

Before [Preposition] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house.

2. Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that.

3. An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.

4. Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than.

5. In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.

6. Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.

7. Open for; free of access to; in the power of.

Before-time [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Formerly; of old time. 1 Samuel 9:1 . Joshua 20:1 .

Beforehand [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. In a state of anticipation or preoccupation; often followed by with; as, you are before hand with me.

2. Antecedently; by way of preparation or preliminary; aforetime. Math.13. 1 Timothy 5:24 .

3. In a state of accumulation, so as that more has been received than expended. A man is beforehand In this use it is more properly an adjective.

4. At first; before any thing is done.

Beforehand [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded.

Beforehand [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1913

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

2. By way of preparation, or preliminary; previously; aforetime.

Beforetime [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Formerly; aforetime.

Precedence Roget’s Thesaurus §62

N. precedence, coming before, the lead, le pas, superiority, importance, antecedence, antecedency, anteriority, precursor, priority, precession, anteposition, epacme, preference

V. precede, come before, come first, head, lead, take the lead, lead the way, lead the dance, be in the vanguard, introduce, usher in, have the pas, set the fashion, open the ball, take precedence, have precedence, have the start, place before, prefix, premise, prelude, preface

Adj. preceding, precedent, antecedent, anterior, prior, before, former, foregoing, beforementioned, abovementioned, aforementioned, aforesaid, said, precursory, precursive, prevenient, preliminary, prefatory, introductory, prelusive, prelusory, proemial, preparatory

Adv. before, in advance

Phr. seniores priores, prior tempore prior jure

Priority Roget’s Thesaurus §116

N. priority, antecedence, anteriority, precedence, pre-existence, precession, precursor, the past, premises

V. precede, come before, forerun, go before, preexist, dawn, presage, herald, usher in, be beforehand, steal a march upon, anticipate, forestall, have the start, gain the start

Adj. prior, previous, preceding, precedent, anterior, antecedent, pre- existing, pre-existent, former, foregoing, aforementioned, before- mentioned, abovementioned, aforesaid, said, introductory

Adv. before, prior to, earlier, previously, afore, aforehand, beforehand, ere, theretofore, erewhile, ere then, ere now, before then, before now, erewhile, already, yet, beforehand, on the eve of

Phr. prior tempore prior jure

Presence Roget’s Thesaurus §186

N. presence, occupancy, occupation, attendance, # whereness, permeation, pervasion, diffusion, ubiety, ubiquity, ubiquitariness, omnipresence, bystander

V. exist in space, be present, assister, make one of, make one at, look on, attend, remain, find oneself, present oneself, show one's face, fall in the way of, occur in a place, lie, stand, occupy, be there, people, inhabit, dwell, reside, stay, sojourn, live, abide, lodge, nestle, roost, perch, take up one's abode, tenant, resort to, frequent, haunt, revisit, fill, pervade, permeate, be diffused, be disseminated, be through, over spread, overrun, run through, meet one at every turn

Adj. present, occupying, inhabiting, moored, resiant, resident, residentiary, domiciled, ubiquitous, ubiquitary, omnipresent, universally present, peopled, populous, full of people, inhabited

Adv. here, there, where, everywhere, aboard, on board, at home, afield, here there and everywhere, in presence of, before, under the eyes of, under the nose of, in the face of, in propria persona, on the spot, in person, in the flesh

Phr. nusquam est qui ubique est

Front Roget’s Thesaurus §234

N. front, fore, forepart, foreground, face, disk, disc, frontage, facade, proscenium, facia, frontispiece, anteriority, obverse, fore rank, front rank, van, vanguard, advanced guard, outpost, first line, scout, brow, forehead, visage, physiognomy, phiz, countenance, mut*, rostrum, beak, bow, stem, prow, prore, jib, pioneer, metoposcopy

V. be in front, stand in front, front, face, confront, bend forwards, come to the front, come to the fore

Adj. fore, anterior, front, frontal

Adv. before, in front, in the van, in advance, ahead, right ahead, forehead, foremost, in the foreground, in the lee of, before one's face, before one's eyes, face to face, vis-a-vis, front a front

Phr. formosa muta commendatio est, frons est animi janua, "human face divine", imago animi vultus est indices oculi, "sea of upturned faces"

Precession Roget’s Thesaurus §280

N. precession, leading, heading, precedence, priority, the lead, le pas, van, precursor

V. go before, go ahead, go in the van, go in advance, precede, forerun, usher in, introduce, herald, head, take the lead, lead the way, lead the dance, get the start, have the start, steal a march, get before, get ahead, get in front of, outstrip, take precedence

Adj. leading, precedent

Adv. in advance, before, ahead, in the van, in the lead, foremost, headmost, in front, at the head, out in front, way out in front, far ahead

Phr. seniores priores, ahead of his time

Choice Roget’s Thesaurus §609

N. choice, option, discretion, preoption, alternative, dilemma, embarras de choix, adoption, cooptation, novation, decision, election, political election (politics) 737a, selection, excerption, gleaning, eclecticism, excerpta, gleanings, cuttings, scissors and paste, pick, preference, prelation, opinion poll, survey, predilection

V. offers one's choice, set before, hold out the alternative, present the alternative, offer the alternative, put to the vote, use option, use discretion, exercise option, exercise discretion, one's option, adopt, take up, embrace, espouse, choose, elect, opt for, take one's choice, make one's choice, make choice of, fix upon, vote, poll, hold up one's hand, divide, settle, decide, list, make up one's mind, select, pick and choose, pick out, single out, cull, glean, winnow, sift the chaff from the wheat, separate the chaff from the wheat, winnow the chaff from the wheat, pick up, pitch upon, pick one's way, indulge one's fancy, set apart, mark out for, mark, prefer, have rather, have as lief, fancy, be persuaded, take a decided step, take a decisive step, commit oneself to a course, pass the rubicon, cross the rubicon, cast in one's lot with, take for better or for worse

Adj. optional, discretional, eclectic, choosing, preferential, chosen, choice

Adv. optionally, at pleasure, either the one or the other, or at the option of, whether or not, once and for all, for one's money, by choice, by preference, in preference, rather, before

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

1,966 KJV and 1,341 BSB verses contain “Before” — showing the first 20. Show all 2,223 verses (searchable)

Genesis 2:5

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted; for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

Genesis 6:11

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence.

Genesis 6:13

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.

Genesis 7:1

And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

Genesis 10:9

He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; so it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.”

Genesis 11:28

And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

During his father Terah’s lifetime, Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans.

Genesis 12:15

The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

When Pharaoh’s officials saw Sarai, they commended her to him, and she was taken into the palace of Pharaoh.

Genesis 13:9

Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Genesis 13:10

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

Genesis 13:13

But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.

Genesis 17:1

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.

Genesis 17:18

And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!”

Genesis 18:8

And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

Genesis 18:22

And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

Genesis 19:4

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

Before they had gone to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house.

Genesis 19:13

For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

because we are about to destroy this place. For the outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that He has sent us to destroy it.”

Genesis 19:27

And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:

Early the next morning, Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD.

Genesis 20:15

And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”

Genesis 20:16

And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

Genesis 21:23

Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”