His angel, who shall go
Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire.
Milton.

Before Abraham was, I am.
John viii. 58.

Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.
Swift.

* Formerly before, in this sense, was followed by that. "Before that Philip called thee . . . I saw thee." John i. 48.

The golden age . . . is before us.
Carlyle.

He that cometh after me is preferred before me.
John i. 15.

The eldest son is before the younger in succession.
Johnson.

Abraham bowed down himself before the people.
Gen. xxiii. 12.

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?
Micah vi. 6.

If a suit be begun before an archdeacon.
Ayliffe.

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.

The battle was before and behind.
2 Chron. xiii. 14.

You tell me, mother, what I knew before.
Dryden.

When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before.
Shak.

* Before is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, before-cited, before-mentioned; beforesaid.