Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ere
Ere
(ār or âr; 277)
, p
rep.
& adv.
1.
Before; sooner than.
[Archaic or Poetic]
Myself was stirring
ere
the break of day. Shakespeare
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. Shakespeare
Ere long
, before, shortly.
Shak.
– Ere now
, formerly, heretofore.
Shak.
– Ere that
, and Or are
Same as
Ere
. Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ere
ERE
,adv.
Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore.
The nobleman saith to him, Sir, come down ere my child die. John 4.
In these passages, ere is really a preposition, followed by a sentence, instead of a single word, as below.
ERE
, prep. Before.Our fruitful Nile
Flow'd ere the wonted season.