Ere

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ɛː/
• US IPA: /ɛɹ/
• Rhymes: -ɛə(r)

From Middle English ere, from Old English ǣr. (adverb, conjunction, & preposition), from Proto-Germanic *airiz comparative of Proto-Germanic *airi ("early"), from Proto-Indo-European *áyeri ("day, morning") (compare Avestan 𐬀𐬫𐬀𐬭 (ayar, "day"), Gk. ἠέριος (ēérios, "at daybreak"), see also era). The adverb erstwhile retains the Old English superlative ǣrest ("earliest").

Alternative forms

• yer 15th-16th c.

Full definition of ere

Adverb

1. (obsolete) At an earlier time. 10th-17th c.
• 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, John I:Thys is he of whome I spake, he that commeth after me, was before me be cause he was yer than I.

Preposition

1. (poetic, archaic) Before; sooner than.
• Bible, John iv. 49Sir, come down ere my child die.
• ShakespeareStirring ere the break of day.
• DrydenEre sails were spread new oceans to explore.

Related terms

• erstwhile
• ere long

Pronunciation

Noun

1. Obsolete form of ear
• 1533, R. Saltwood:As plesaunt to the ere as the blacke sanctus Of a sad sorte vpon a mery pyn.

Anagrams

• e'er