BEFO'RE, prep. be and fore, that is by fore, near the fore part.
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.
Abraham bowed before the people of the land. Genesis 23
Wherewithal shall I come before the Lord. Micah 6 .
3. In sight of as before the face.
4. In the presence of, noting cognizance of jurisdiction.
5. In the power of, noting the right or ability to choose or possess free to the choice.
The world was all before them.
My land is before thee. Genesis 20
6. In front of any object as before the house before the fire.
7. Preceding in time.
Before I was afflicted, I went astray. Psalms 119
Before Abraham was, I am. John 8 .
Here the preposition has a sentence following for an object.
8. In preference to.
And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Genesis 48
Poverty is desirable before torments.
9. Superior preceding in dignity.
He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for he was before me. John 50
10. Prior to having prior right preceding in order as, the eldest son is before the younger in succession.
11. Previous to in previous order in order to.
Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.
12. Before the wind, is to move in the direction of the wind by its impulse.
BEFO'RE, adv. In time preceding.
You tell me what I knew before.
1. In time preceding, to the present, or to this time hitherto as, tumults then arose which before were unknown.
2. Further onward in place, in progress, or in front.
Reaching forth to those things which are before. Philippians 3
3. In front on the fore part.
The battle was before and behind. 2 Chronicles 13
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.