afore

• POS: Conjunction, Preposition, Adverb
• HYPHEN: a=fore

CIDE DICTIONARY

afore, adv. [OE. afore, aforn, AS. onforan or ætforan; pref. a- + fore.].

•  Before.  [1913 Webster]

  "If he have never drunk wine afore."  [1913 Webster]
•  In the fore part of a vessel.  [1913 Webster]

afore, prep. 

•  Before (in all its senses).  [1913 Webster]
•  Before; in front of; farther forward than; as, afore the windlass.  [1913 Webster]

Afore the mast, among the common sailors; -- a phrase used to distinguish the ship's crew from the officers.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

afore, prep. & adv. archaic before; previously; in front (of).

Etymology

OE onforan (as A(2), FORE)

ROGET THESAURUS

afore

Priority

N priority, antecedence, anteriority, precedence, pre-existence, precession, precursor, the past, premises, prior, previous, preceding, precedent, anterior, antecedent, pre- existing, pre-existent, former, foregoing, aforementioned, before- mentioned, abovementioned, aforesaid, said, introductory, before, prior to, earlier, previously, afore, aforehand, beforehand, ere, theretofore, erewhile, ere then, ere now, before then, before now, erewhile, already, yet, beforehand, on the eve of, prior tempore prior jure.