Ere — Defs

01 prep. & adv. Before; sooner than.

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.

Phrases & compounds

Ere long — before, shortly.

Ere now — formerly, heretofore.

Ere that — Same as Ere.

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