A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Abefore, Abefoir, adv. and prep. Also: abefor; abefoyre. [Reduced from of before: see Before adv. and Obefore.]
1. adv. Before; formerly.Common in 16–17th c.; in later use chiefly northern.1494 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 54 (as thai breukit abefor). 1516 Ib. 94 (the five barrellis abefor writin). 1529 Conv. Burghs I. 510 (20 dayis abefoir). 1571 Misc. Bann. C. III. 126 (thingis demandit abefor). 1601 Ellon Presb. 13 (the process deducit abefoir). 1653 Strathbogie Presb. 239 (all sins he was given to abefor). 1688 Rec. Old Aberd. II. 105 (haveing met abefore).
2. prep. Before, previous to.1589 Douglas Corr. 241 (at nycht abefoir the court).
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"Abefore adv., prep.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 25 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/abefore>
