Ere \Ere\ (?; 277), prep. & adv. [AS. ?r, prep., adv., & conj.;
akin to OS., OFries., & OHG. ?r, G. eher, D. eer, Icel.
[=a]r, Goth. air. [root]204. Cf. Early, Erst, Or, adv.]
1. Before; sooner than. [Archaic or Poetic]
Myself was stirring ere the break of day. --Shak.
Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore.
--Dryden.
Sir, come down ere my child die. --John iv. 49.
2. Rather than.
I will be thrown into Etna, . . . ere I will leave
her. --Shak.
Ere long, before, shortly. --Shak.
Ere now, formerly, heretofore. --Shak.
Ere that, & Or are. Same as Ere. --Shak.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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