Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ere"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Ere \Ere\, v. t.
To plow. [Obs.] See {Ear}, v. t. --Chaucer.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Ere \Ere\ (?; 277), prep. & adv. [AS. ?r, prep., adv., & conj.;
akin to OS., OFries., & OHG. ?r, G. eher, D. eer, Icel.
[=a]r, Goth. air. [root]204. Cf. {Early}, {Erst}, {Or}, adv.]
1. Before; sooner than. [Archaic or Poetic]

Myself was stirring ere the break of day. --Shak.

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. --Shak.

{Ere long}, before, shortly. --Shak.

{Ere now}, formerly, heretofore. --Shak.

{Ere that}, & {Or are}. Same as {Ere}. --Shak.

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