English
before
Before comes from Old English beforan ‘before, in front of’, from be- + foran ‘before’.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150foran‘before’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150beforan‘before, in front of’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500bifore
- Englishearliest quotation 1611before
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150foran‘before’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150beforan‘before, in front of’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500bifore
- Englishearliest quotation 1611before
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “He that cometh after me is preferred before me.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘front’
far, per, support, further, price, private, practice, fear, press, primary, report, prime, opportunity, pre, prize, prior, appreciate, transport, practical, sport, port, pregnant, praise, privilege, parade, par, precious, afford, interpretation, ferry, pirate, ford, forth, pardon, primitive, prix, fare, porch, pragmatic, privy, 157 more
through Proto-Germanic *furai
Today it means
prep Earlier than (in time).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English foran / before