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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Ere \Ere\, v. t.
To plow. [Obs.] See {Ear}, v. t. --Chaucer.
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Ere \Ere\ ([=a]r or [^a]r; 277), prep. & adv. [AS. [=ae]r,
prep., adv., & conj.; akin to OS., OFries., & OHG. [=e]r, G.
eher, D. eer, Icel. [=a]r, Goth. air. [root]204. Cf. {Early},
{Erst}, {Or}, adv.]
1. Before; sooner than. [Archaic or Poetic]
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Myself was stirring ere the break of day. --Shak.
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Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore.
--Dryden.
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Sir, come down ere my child die. --John iv. 49.
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2. Rather than.
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I will be thrown into Etna, . . . ere I will leave
her. --Shak.
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{Ere long}, before, shortly. --Shak.

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

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