before
UK: bɪˈfɔː | US: bɪˈfɔːr
prep. earlier in time; in front of
adv. at an earlier time; in advance
conj. previous to the time when
The word "before" originates from Old English beforan, combining be- (a prefix meaning "by" or "near") and foran ("front" or "earlier"). The fore root is shared with words like "forward" and "foremost," tracing back to Proto-Germanic fura and Proto-Indo-European per- (meaning "forward" or "through"). Over time, "before" evolved to signify temporal precedence ("earlier than") as well as spatial positioning ("in front of"), reflecting the conceptual link between time and space in language.
She arrived before the meeting started.
He had never seen such a sight before.
Check the instructions before assembling the furniture.
Your name comes before mine on the list.
Before you leave, please turn off the lights.