Before

Be·fore

Before

prep.
  1. In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house.
    His angel, who shall go Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire.
  2. Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that.
    Before Abraham was, I am.
    — John viii. 58.
    Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.
  3. An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.
    The golden age . . . is before us.
  4. Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than.
    He that cometh after me is preferred before me.
    — John i. 15.
    The eldest son is before the younger in succession.
  5. In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.
    Abraham bowed down himself before the people.
    — Gen. xxiii. 12.
    Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?
    — Micah vi. 6.
  6. Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.
    If a suit be begun before an archdeacon.
    — Ayliffe.
  7. Open for; free of access to; in the power of.
    The world was all before them where to choose.

Phrases & Compounds
Before the mast
as a common sailor, -- because the sailors live in the forecastle, forward of the foremast.
Before the wind
in the direction of the wind and by its impulse; having the wind aft.

Before

adv.
  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. In advance.
  3. In time past; previously; already.
    You tell me, mother, what I knew before.
  4. Earlier; sooner than; until then.
    When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before.