beforan
The English phrase "before" is translated into Old English as beforan.
The word beforan is a conjunction used to indicate that one event or state occurs in advance of the time of another.
Meaning: in advance of the time when (conj)
Did you know?
- In many Old English poetic contexts, 'before' implied a state of being 'preceding' or 'outstripping' others in rank or importance, not just in time.
- The word foran is a direct ancestor to the modern English word 'fore', used in terms like 'forehead' or 'forearm' to denote the front part of something.
- The Old English beforan is composed of the prefix be- and the word foran, which originally meant 'in front of' or 'before' in a physical, spatial sense.
Examples in context
- Forean þonne niht gefylleBefore nightfall
Example conversation
Godric and Wulfrun are planning their journey.
- GodricWulfrun, wē sculon gān beforan niht.Wulfrun, we must leave before night.
- WulfrunIs hit tīd tō gān nū?Is it time to go now?
- GodricGēa, wē gāþ ǣr se reġn cume.Yes, we go before the rain comes.
- WulfrunIċ bidde, lǣt ūs gān.I pray, let us go.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beforan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
