pre-

a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, where it meant “before” (preclude; prevent); applied freely as a prefix, with the meanings “prior to,” “in advance of,” “early,” “beforehand,” “before,” “in front of,” and with other figurative meanings (preschool; prewar; prepay; preoral; prefrontal).

Origin of pre-

<Latin prae-, prefixal use of prae (preposition and adv.); akin to first, fore-, prior¹, pro¹

Also prae- .

Words Nearby pre-

Other definitions for P.R.E. (2 of 2)

P.R.E.

abbreviation

Petroleum Refining Engineer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pre- in a sentence

Arvind learned the hardest way possible that the correct spelling was P-R-E-S-A.
Queens Phenom Goes for Redemption at National Spelling Bee Finals | Michael Daly | March 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for pre-

pre-

prefix

before in time, rank, order, position, etc: predate; pre-eminent; premeditation; prefrontal; preschool

Origin of pre-

from Latin prae-, from prae before, beforehand, in front

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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