8 definitions found for afore

Afore AFO'RE, adv. or prep. [a and fore.]
1. In front.
2. Between one object and another, so as to intercept a direct view or intercourse; as, to stand between a person and the light of a candle - a popular use of the word.
3. Prior in time; before; anterior; prior time being considered as in front of subsequent time.
The grass which withereth afore it groweth up. Psa 129.
In all these senses it is now inelegant, and superseded by before.
4. In seaman's language, toward the head of the ship; further forward, or nearer the stem; as, afore the windlas. Afore the mast, is a phrase which is applied to a common sailor, one who does duty on the main deck, or has no office on board the ship.

afore adverb or conjunction or preposition Etymology: Middle English, from Old English onforan, from on + foran before — more at before Date: before 12th century chiefly dialect before

afore
prep. & adv. archaic before; previously; in front (of).
Etymology: OE onforan (as A(2), FORE)

afore-
comb. form before, previously (aforementioned; aforesaid).

afore əˈfɔ: prep. & adv. archaic before; previously; in front (of). [OE onforan (as A(2), FORE)]

Afore A*fore", adv. [OE. afore, aforn, AS. onforan or [ae]tforan; pref. a- + fore.] 1. Before. [Obs.] If he have never drunk wine afore. --Shak. 2. (Naut.) In the fore part of a vessel.

Afore A*fore", prep. 1. Before (in all its senses). [Archaic] 2. (Naut.) Before; in front of; farther forward than; as, afore the windlass. Afore the mast, among the common sailors; -- a phrase used to distinguish the ship's crew from the officers.

AFORE a-for': Archaic for "before" of time, or "formerly"; frequently occurs as compound, as in "aforetime," "aforehand," etc.; in the New Testament most commonly for the Greek prefix, pro, in compound words (Ro 1:2; 15:4); at other times, for Greek adverb pote, "at some time," "once" (Joh 9:13; 1Pe 3:5; Col 3:7).