Afore

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ÊŒ.foɹ/

Alternative forms

• affor

Origin

Middle English afore, aforn, from Old English onforan or ætforan. (- + fore)

Full definition of afore

Adverb

1. (dialect) Before.
• ShakespeareIf he have never drunk wine afore, it will go near to remove his fit.
• 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 1, A chap named Eleazir Kendrick and I had chummed in together the summer afore and built a fish-weir and shanty at Setuckit Point, down Orham way. For a spell we done pretty well.
2. (nautical) In the fore part of a ship.

Preposition

1. before
• 1989: Edward Chisnall, Bell in the tree; The Glasgow story"Oh aye!" his face lit up with a smile. "I mind that! Where was that?" "That was us when we all worked in the shop, afore the War." "Oh aye …?" he frowned. "Who …?" She took the photograph back from him and reached inside her apron pocket for her spectacles.

Related terms

• afore-