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. Milton. Before the mast (Naut.), as a common sailor, — because the sailors live in the forecastle, forward of the foremast. — Before the wind (Naut.), in the direction of the wind and by its impulse; having the wind aft.
BEFORE
Be*fore", 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. "I come before to tell you." Shak.
3. In time past; previously; already. You tell me, mother, what I knew before. Dryden.
4. Earlier; sooner than; until then. When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before. Shak.
Note: Before is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, before- cited, before-mentioned; beforesaid.
BEFOREHAND
Be*fore"hand`, adv. Etym: [Before + hand.]