Middle English Dictionary Entry
bifōren-hō̆nd adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | bifōren-hō̆nd adv. Also bifore-, bivore(n-, biforehand(es. |
| Etymology | Modeled on L prae manibus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) At an earlier time, before; above (in a book); (b) in advance, beforehand; (c) of payments: in advance.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)5496 : As y ȝou seyd bifornhand.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1317 : As ye biforn hond [Petw: to-fornhonde] Herde me telle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)178b/a : His wordes ben ysette here biforehande.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)301a/a : Þe cowe haþ good melk after caluynge and no mylk byforehond.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)7224 : Sare men aght to drede þe brande atte brende him has be-fore hande.
- a1400 Wycl.MPl.(Add 24202)49 : Ofte sythis the convertynge..is but feynyd holynesse, worse than is othere synne biforehande.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.9 : Kynewolf toke þe kyngdom..As his ancestres had it befor hand.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.186 : Fulle oft biforhand bituex þam was distance.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)54/11 : Þai hade descomfitede him biforn-hand.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)35/8 : They ar your mortall enemyes, and that hathe bene preved beforehonde.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)57b : Ha beoð þe leasse to meanen þet ha biuoren hond leornið hare meoster to makien grim chere.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)404 : Hit is þing þat þou coueyted Er longe bi-fore-hand.
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)34/1 : Al þat is and euer was and euer schal be tyden, al hit is be fore hond to þi wit knowen.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.13.3 : He was turnyd aȝen..vnto the place in the which biforhond [L prius] he had ficchid a tabernacle.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1508 : Who so þus salbe seruand May take a sop wele be-for-hand.
c
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10028 : Þe hundred þousend marc were ipaid biuore hond.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)15/31 : Of whiche couenaunt..take he þe half byfore handez [L præ manibus].
- c1460 Oseney Reg.165/5 : CC marke..the which..to me beforehandes þaye paied.
- (1472) Will York in Sur.Soc.45205 : As for the first yere ferme, it is paid before hand.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)79/19 : xxv marke, payd by fore hond to the same raph.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)304/8 : The..Abbesse and Covent yaf hym vj shillings..before handys.