Middle English Dictionary Entry
afōre-wā̆rd adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | afōre-wā̆rd adv. Also avore-. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. fore-ward.
1.
(a) Forward (in space), in or to the front, ahead; (b) earliest (in time), before anything else, first of all; (c) first in rank or importance.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)189 : Iudas com avoreward..Mid Gywes and oþer volke.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1722 : Duk Naymes furst gan to entre þe brigge aforewarde, Ac þe Briggeward sone him hente.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3379 : Roland was þe furste of alle þat rod afforeward.
b
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)105/3 : Hie wile ðat godd a-forewarde habbe his ȝerihte of alle his iscafte, and seððen aurich ȝescafte here rihte.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11944 : So þat a voreward Þe bissop hii chose of baþe water giffard.
- c1390 Mannyng HS, Mir.CC (Vrn)21 : Ȝit a-forward [Hrl: aftyrward] he let hym slo Wiþ so gret deþ-pyne and wo.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.24 : Noble was the parlement..For ther were, furst and aforeward, the Kyng and his sone.