afore
Pronunciation
  • (America) IPA: /əˈfɔɹ/
  • (RP) IPA: /əˈfɔː/
  • (rhotic, horse-hoarse) IPA: /əˈfo(ː)ɹ/
  • (nonrhotic, horse-hoarse) IPA: /əˈfoə/
Adverb

afore (not comparable)

  1. (archaic, dialect) Before.
    • 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene ii], [https://books.google.com/books?id=uNtBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PAStephano}}: He's in his fit now ; and doe's not talke after the wiſeſt ; hee ſhall taſte of my Bottle : if hee haue neuer drunke wine afore, it will goe neere to remoue his Fit :: He's in his fit now ; and doe's not talke after the wiſeſt ; hee ſhall taſte of my Bottle : if hee haue neuer drunke wine afore, it will goe neere to remoue his Fit :{{...}]:
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  2. (nautical) In the fore part of a ship.
Preposition
  1. Before; in advance of the time of.
    • 1989, Edward Chisnall, Bell in the tree; The Glasgow story:
      "Oh aye!" his face lit up with a smile. "I mind that! Where was that?" "That was us when we all worked in the shop, afore the War." "Oh aye …?" he frowned. "Who …?" She took the photograph back from him and reached inside her apron pocket for her spectacles.
  2. Before; situated geographically or metaphorically in front of.
Conjunction
  1. In advance of the time when; before.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Ezekiel 33:22 ↗:
      Now the hand of the Lord was vpon mee in the euening, afore hee that was escaped came, and had opened my mouth vntill hee came to mee in the morning, and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumbe.



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