ere
English
Etymology 1
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”).
Pronunciation
Alternative forms
- yer [15th-16th c.]
Adverb
ere (not comparable)
- (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.
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, John I:
Preposition
ere
- (poetic, archaic) Before; sooner than.
- Bible, John iv. 49
- Sir, come down ere my child die.
- Shakespeare
- Stirring ere the break of day.
- Dryden
- Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore.
- Bible, John iv. 49
Translations
before, sooner than
Quotations
- For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.
Related terms
- erstwhile
- ere long
Etymology 2
Pronunciation
Noun
ere (plural eres)
- Obsolete form of ear..
- 1533, R. Saltwood:
- As plesaunt to the ere as the blacke sanctus Of a sad sorte vpon a mery pyn.
- 1533, R. Saltwood:
Anagrams
Danish
Verb
ere
Usage notes
- Plural verbs were made optional in 1900.
Related terms
Dutch
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -eːrə
Noun
ere f (plural eren)
In ere houden. To keep in honour
Verb
ere