Afore
King James Dictionary [1]
AFO'RE, adv. or prep. a and fore.
1. In front. 2. Between one object and another, so as to intercept a direct view or intercourse as, to stand between a person and the light of a candle - a popular use of the word. 3. Prior in time before anterior prior time being considered as in front of subsequent time.
The grass which withereth afore it groweth up. Psalms 129 .
In all these senses it is now inelegant, and superseded by before.
4. In seaman's language, toward the head of the ship further forward, or nearer the stem as, afore the windlas. Afore the mast, is a phrase which is applied to a common sailor, one who does duty on the main deck, or has no office on board the ship.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): (adv.) Before.
(2): (prep.) Before; in front of; farther forward than; as, afore the windlass.
(3): (adv.) In the fore part of a vessel.
(4): (prep.) Before (in all its senses).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [3]
a - fōr ´: Archaic for "before" of time, or "formerly"; frequently occurs as compound, as in "aforetime," "aforehand," etc.; in the New Testament most commonly for the Greek prefix, πρό , pró , in compound words ( Romans 1:2; Romans 15:4 ); at other times, for Greek adverb ποτέ , poté , "at some time," "once" ( John 9:13; 1 Peter 3:5; Colossians 3:7 ).
