prep. and adv. Obs. [A combination of aforen (see AFORE) and aȝean, aȝen, AGAIN, in which the former word appears as aforn, afore, afor, and the latter as -ayen, -eyen, -yen, -eye, -ye, or (from the adv. gen. aȝenes) as -ayens, -eyens, -yens, -ens. Those in -s are mostly northern. Cf. OE. foran-onʓeanes: see FORNENST.]

1

  A.  prep.

2

  1.  Over against, opposite. fig. Before, in the presence of.

3

1250.  Layamon, 18529. Þar sat Vther þe king; in his heȝe setle. Aforneȝen him Gorlois.

4

1340.  Ayenb., 18. He is wel vileyn and ontrewe auoreye his lhord.

5

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, II. 1139. The yondur house, that stent aforeyens us.

6

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VII. viii. 899. Set ewyn a-for-nens Berwyke.

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  2.  With regard to, in respect of, as concerns.

8

1340.  Ayenb., 24. Auorye þet bodi: ase helþe, uayrhede … Auorye þe ȝaule: ase clier wyt. Ibid., 129. Ysy hou þou art fyeble and brotel, and a-uorye þet body and a-uorye þe ȝaule.

9

  B.  adv. [obj. omitted.] Over against, opposite.

10

1388.  Wyclif, Mark xv. 39. The centurien that stood aforn aȝens.

11