before

Signification

Prep

1. Earlier than (in time).
2. In front of in space.
3. In the presence of.
4. Under consideration, judgment, authority of (someone).
5. In store for, in the future of (someone).
6. In front of, according to a formal system of ordering items.
7. At a higher or greater position than, in a ranking.

Adv

1. At an earlier time.
2. In advance in position or sequence; ahead.
3. At the front end.

Conj

1. In advance of the time when.
2. (informal) Rather or sooner than.

Coupé comme

be‧fore

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/bɪˈfɔː/

Étymologie

Inherited from Middle English before／bifore, from Old English beforan, from be- + foran (“before”), from fore, from Proto-Germanic *furai, from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“front”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian befoar (“before”), German Low German bevör (“before”), German bevor (“before”).

Phrases

I never saw her before .

Je ne l'ai jamais vue auparavant.

I never saw this thing before in my life .

Je n'ai jamais vu cette chose auparavant dans ma vie.

Business before pleasure .

Affaires avant le plaisir.

He looked around at the empty plaza again , feeling less desperate than before .

Il regarda à nouveau la place vide, se sentant moins désespérée qu'auparavant.

Before you meet the handsome prince you have to kiss a lot of toads .

Avant de rencontrer le beau prince, vous devez embrasser beaucoup de crapauds.

Cheese must be grated before being added .

Le fromage doit être râpé avant d'être ajouté.

He was educated at Wellington College in Berkshire before joining the Army .

Il a fait ses études au Wellington College de Berkshire avant de rejoindre l'armée.

Before entering politics Wilkie was an infantry officer in the Australian Army .

Avant d'entrer en politique, Wilkie était officier d'infanterie dans l'armée australienne.