Ere

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To plow. [Obs.] See Ear, v. t. Chaucer.

Part of speech: preposition (prep.)

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, and Or are. Same as Ere. Shak.