Middle English Dictionary Entry
bifōre- pref.
Entry Info
Forms | bifōre- pref. Also biforn-, bifor-. |
Etymology | In many words modeled on L words with prefix prae-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
In verbs: (a) ~ barren, prevent, bar; forbid; (b) ~ comen, come into the presence of; (c) ~ girden, to gird beforehand, provide; (d) ~ gon, come into the presence of; (e) ~ greithen, prepare; (f) ~ occupien; (g) ~ saien, foretell; (h) ~ sen, foresee; (i) ~ senden, send ahead; (J) ~ setten, put over or above; (k) ~ singen, sing first, lead the singing; anticipate or predict (events) in song; (l) ~ strecchen, extend; (m) ~ taken, anticipate, bestow beforehand; (n) ~ tellen, proclaim [see biforen-tellen v.]; (o) ~ warnen, foreshadow; warn beforehand; (p) ~ weven, weave around, cover.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)478 : Thei letten and biforebarren..and forbeden..forto visite fadirles..children.
b
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)86 : I bifore cam [L praeveni] in ripenesse..Myn iȝen bifore camen to þee ful eerli.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.17.33 : God that befor girte [L præcinxit] me with vertue.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.88.15 : Merci and treuthe shul beforgo [WB(2): go bifore; L præcedent] thi face.
e
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.88.5 : I shal beforgreithe [WB(2): make redi; L præparabo] thi seed.
f
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.94.2 : Befor ocupie [L præoccupemus] wee his face in knouleching.
g
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.138.4 : Alle my weies thou beforn seȝe [WB(2): hast bifor seien; L prævidisti].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Eccl.4.13 : An eld kyng and fool, that kan not bifore se [L prævidere] in to tyme to comynge.
h
- a1425 Methodius(1) (Hrl 1900)105/1 : Seynt Poul beforseide þese þingis.
i
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.12.21 : Tymothe bifore sente [L præmisit] wymmen.
j
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.17.15 : In to eche folc of kinde he beforn sette [L præposuit] a gouernour.
k
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Matthew (Add 28026:Hudson)7/86 : How ofte victorie eþer tocomynge of enmye was byforesungun [by the Psalmist], or victorie don was brouȝt to mynde [by the prophets].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)1 Par.15.22 : Chinonye..was souereyn to biforsynge [L præcinendam] melodie.
l
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.35.11 : Befor strecche [L prætende] thi mercy to men knowende thee.
m
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.78.8 : Thou..soone shul befor taken [L anticipent] vs thi mercies.
n
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.49.6 : Heuenes shuln his riȝtwisnes before telle; for God is domesman.
o
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Wisd.18.19 : The viseouns that disturbeden hem, these thingus biforn warneden [L praemonebant].
p
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 36.28 : The cloudis..that before weuen [L prætexunt] alle thingus theraboue.
2.
In ppls.: (a) ~ comen, anticipated; (b) ~ declared, previously declared; (c) ~ determined, predestined; (d) ~ ended, ended beforehand; (e) ~ going, foregoing, preceding; preliminary; surpassing; (f) ~ had, previously possessed or had; (g) ~ mad, made before; (h) ~ marked, defined beforehand; ~ monested, warned aforetime; (i) ~ named, mentioned before or above; (j) ~ noumbred, enumerated before; (k) ~ passed, bygone; ~ passend, surpassing; (l) ~ rehersed, ~ remembred, mentioned before; (m) ~ said, mentioned before, aforesaid; (n) ~ set, previously established; proposed; set above; (o) ~ spoken, previously uttered or mentioned; (p) ~ tasted, previously tasted; (q) ~ thought, premeditated; (r) ~ wist, known in advance; (s) ~ writen, written or recorded above; prescribed.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.14.31 : He knewȝ, hym strongly byfore cummen [L præventum] of the man.
b
- (1455) Lin.DDoc.77/37 : To procede after my wyl before declared.
c
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.21.25 : But thou, cursid wickid duyk of Israel, whos dai bifor determyned [L præfinita] is comun.
d
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)145 : Suffryng schal be þanne ouer passed and bifore eendid here in þis lijf.
e
- c1400 WBible(2) Gloss.Ezek.(Lamb 25)12.12 : To the noumbre biforgoinge ben addid xlv daies.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)14 : Manye oþere of hise benefetis ben bifore going meenys into þe keping of his lawe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)140 : In þyn euerlasting euer bifore goyng wisdom þou siest.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)217 : Þese argumentis now bifore goyng y make.
f
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.40.13 : Pharao shal..restore thee to the bifore had [WB(2): firste; L pristinum] gree.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)117/4 : Oure wil..refusiþ þilk deede aȝens þe bifore had counselyng.
g
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)121/27 : For answer to þi last bifore maad askyng.
h
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.John (Yk-M 14.D.2:Hudson)77/120 : Grosted seiþ al þis in a sermoun þat bigynneþ þus, 'Bifor-monestid of þe worschipful fadir' [i.e. Grosseteste, Sermo 19, 'Premonitus a venerabili Patre'].
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)86/29 : It were foul..forto do his werkis into noon prefixid and bifore markid purpos and eend.
i
- (1395) EEWills9/6 : I, Alice West, lady of Hynton Marcel befornemed, hool of my body [etc.].
- (1430) MSS Middleton in HMC111 : The twelfe befornamed men.
- (1469) Will Bury in Camd.4948 : For myn seide doughterys befornamyd.
j
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)87 : Þo bifore noumbrid trouþis.
k
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.33.23 : In alle thi werkes beforn passende [L præcellens] be thou.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)60/2 : Þe poeple..forgetys alle þe euelys byforepassyd.
l
- (1448) Indent.Cmb.in PCmb.AS 939 : All these covenuntes beforrehersed.
- (1470) LRed Bk.Bristol2.134 : Bytwen the gardens of them bothe lordes by ffore rehersyd.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)594/4 : The same Abbesse and Couent before remembred.
m
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)18/32 : Ðeos biuoreseide psalmes.
- (1432) Rec.Norwich 2391 : The parties befornseyd to thise presents endentures alternatly han set her selys.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)195 : He haþ forȝeuenes of his bifore seid synnes.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)367/20 : Of þe byforeseide wordes.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)488/7 : Þe parlement bygan..as is beforeseid.
n
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)28 : Beforesette: Prefixus.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)295 : Ensaumple answering to þe first bifore sett case may be þis.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)425 : Þe firste now bifore sette poynt is trew.
o
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)46 : The bifore spoken conclusiouns and treuthis of moral philsophi.
p
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.22.31 : The flesh that were before tastid [L prægustata] of beestis ȝe shulen not eete.
q
- : [No example provided in print MED.]
r
- : [No example provided in print MED.]
s
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)2 Par.30.5 : Manye..hadden not done as in the lawe it is beforn writen [L præscriptum].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Jude 1.4 : Summen..sumtyme weren bifore write in to this doom.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)92/8 : Þan sche went to a powyr woman..as is be-forn-wretyn.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)173/15 : With all hys pertinences..byfore wrete.
3.
In gerunds, action nouns, and agent nouns: (a) ~ breking, breaking asunder; (b) ~ casting, premeditation, purpose; (c) ~ crier, announcer; (d) ~ dede, earlier deed; (e) ~ feghter, champion; ~ figūringe, typological prefiguring; (f) ~ goere, forerunner, precursor; (g) ~ greithing, preparation; (h) ~ knowinge, foreknowledge, prescience; (i) ~ ordinaunce, predestination; (j) ~ rediing, preparation; (k) ~ renner, precursor; (l) ~ shewinge, foreshadowing; (m) ~ spekere, prophet; (n) ~ speking, preface; (o) ~ thinkinge, forethought; (p) ~ walling, outer wall; (q) ~ warnesse, awareness beforehand; (r) ~ witing, foreknowledge.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Zech.14.4 : The hil of olyues schal be coruun of the myddil part..bi ful greet biforbrekyng [L prærupto].
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.21.14 : If ony man sleeth his neiȝbore bi biforecastyng.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.38.4 : Of bifore castyng he discoumfortith the hondis of men werriours.
c
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)4 : Þe book cleepid þe 'bifore crier'.
d
- : [No example provided in print MED.]
e
- ?c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Matthew (Add 41175:Hudson)60/7 : Crist takeþ breed..as Melchisedek prest of hyȝest God hadde doun, offrynge breed and wyn in byforefigurynge of hym.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)8987 : I am..swete Ihesu..And bifor-fegher [read: -feghter; L propugnator]..to saue hom that wer in destresse.
f
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Matthew (Add 28026:Hudson)6/55-56 : As Elie is to-comynge byforegoer of þe Iuge, soo Ioon was maad byforegoer of þe Sauyuour.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.33.2 : Y schal send thi bifore goere [L præcursorem], an aungel.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Heb.6.20 : The bifore goere, Jhesus..entride for vs.
g
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.88.15 : Riȝtwisnesse and dom beforgreithing [L præparatio] of thi sete.
h
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.15.13 : Bifore knowynge [L prænoscens] know thow, that thi seed is to be a pilgrym.
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 2.23 : Þurghe þo bifore-knowynge of God.
i
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Eph.3.11 : After þe bifore ordinaunce of worldys þe whiche he maade in iesu crist oure lord.
j
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.9.17 : The befor rediyng [L præparationem] of the herte of hem herde thin ere.
k
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.33.2 : Y shal sende an aungel, thi before renner.
l
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.41.11 : Bifore shewynge [L præsagum] of thingis that ben to comun.
m
- c1400 WBible(2) Gloss.Ex.(Roy 1.C.9)7.1 : Profete, that is, interpretour ether biforspekere.
n
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.2.33 : Be it ynewȝ for to haue said so myche of prefacioun of byfore spekyng.
o
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)56/14 : It es better truly to haue premedytacyon, a gude be-for-thynkynge.
p
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.26.1 : A saueour shal be set in it, the wal and the bifor walling [WB(2): fore wal; L antemurale].
q
- c1410 Mirror Sinners(1) (UC 97)437 : We schulden euere be bisy aboute this studye of bifore-waarnesse.
r
- : [No example provided in print MED.]
4.
(a) In a concrete noun: ~ porche, front entry or vestibule; (b) in an adj.: ~ rip, ripe first or early.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))3 Esd.9.1 : Risende vp Esdras fro the beforn porche [WB(2): fore porche; L ante-atrium] of the temple.
b
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Num.13.21 : The before rijp [L præcoquæ] grapes myȝte be eete.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408) 340/16 : Robert Gait yaf the fore-seyd mynchons that foreseyd half yerdlonde for euyr..to hold with all libertees..with the ȝyft of te rent, that is to sey, of ij. shillings ij. d before-wryte.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 2(s).--per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: See note under forn- pref.