prep. Obs. Forms: 1 ætforan, 1–3 -en, 2–3 etforan, -en, 3 atforen, etfor, at vore, 3–4 atfore. [OE. ætforan, f. æt, AT- prep. + foran in front, properly dative of for: see AFORE.]
1. In front of, before.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xix. 13. And sæt æt-foran ðam dómsetle.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 41. Heȝe treon eisliche beorninde etforen helle ȝete.
1297. R. Glouc., 358. Hys baner, þat men at vore hym bere.
2. In the presence of, in the sight of, before.
c. 1175. Cott. Hom., 225. Rich[t] wis et-foran gode. Ibid., 229. Et-for har alra ȝesychðe.
1258. Eng. Procl. Hen. III., § 8. Ætforen ure isworene redesmen.
c. 1305. St. Lucy, 79, in E. E. P. (1862), 103. Sire Iustise atfore þe.
3. Before in time or order. rare.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 226. Þeo þet beoð her etforen iseid.
