ere
[air]
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Origin of ere
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ere
Contemporary Examples
Three times,” he says angrily, “thou shalt betray me ere the cock crows.
Historical Examples
“We must call Kit into counsel, ere we can do that fully,” said Stephen.
The Armourer's PrenticesCharlotte M. Yonge
But just ere the silent became unendurable, a thought appeared in the void.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Ere the door was opened Hester had got down and stood waiting.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
The boy was sickly: he might be taken from him ere he had made any true acquaintance with him!
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
But ere she was six slow steps away, she turned at a cry from her mother.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
ere
- a poetic word for before
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Word Origin
Old English ǣr; related to Old Norse ār early, Gothic airis earlier, Old High German ēr earlier, Greek eri early
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for ere
prep.
c.1200, from Old English ær (adv., conj., & prep.) "soon, before (in time)," from Proto-Germanic *airiz, comparative of *air "early" (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Old High German er, Dutch eer; German eher "earlier;" Old Norse ar "early;" Gothic air "early," airis "earlier"), from PIE *ayer- "day, morning" (cf. Avestan ayar "day;" Greek eerios "at daybreak," ariston "breakfast"). The adverb erstwhile retains the Old English superlative ærest "earliest."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper