Part 1006

<hw>Be*fog"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Befogged</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Befogging</er> <tt>(#)</tt>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To involve in a fog; -- mostly as a participle or part. adj.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Hence: To confuse; to mystify.</def>

<h1>Befool</h1> <Xpage=132>

<hw>Be*fool"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Befooled</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Befooling</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>befolen</ets>; pref. <ets>be-</ets> + <ets>fol</ets> fool.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To fool; to delude or lead into error; to infatuate; to deceive.</def>

<blockquote>This story . . . contrived to <b>befool</b> credulous men. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To cause to behave like a fool; to make foolish.</def> "Some <i>befooling</i> drug."

<i>G. Eliot.</i>

<h1>Before</h1> <Xpage=132>

<hw>Be*fore"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>prep.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>beforen</ets>, <ets>biforen</ets>, <ets>before</ets>, AS. <ets>beforan</ets>; pref. <ets>be-</ets> + <ets>foran</ets>, <ets>fore</ets>, before. See <er>Be-</er>, and <er>Fore</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; <as>as, to stand <ex>before</ex> the fire; <ex>before</ex> the house.</as></def>

<blockquote>His angel, who shall go <b>Before</b> them in a cloud and pillar of fire. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that.</def>

<blockquote><b>Before</b> Abraham was, I am. <i>John viii. 58.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote><b>Before</b> this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary. <i> Swift.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; Formerly <i>before</i>, in this sense, was followed by <i>that</i>. "<i>Before that</i> Philip called thee . . . I saw thee."</note>

<i> John i. 48.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.</def>

<blockquote>The golden age . . . is <b>before</b> us. <i>Carlyle.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than.</def>

<blockquote>He that cometh after me is preferred <b>before</b> me. <i>John i. 15.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The eldest son is <b>before</b> the younger in succession. <i>Johnson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.</def>

<blockquote>Abraham bowed down himself <b>before</b> the people. <i>Gen. xxiii. 12.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Wherewith shall I come <b>before</b> the Lord? <i>Micah vi. 6.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.</def>

<blockquote>If a suit be begun <b>before</b> an archdeacon. <i>Ayliffe.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>Open for; free of access to; in the power of.</def>

<blockquote>The world was all <b>before</b> them where to choose. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Before the mast</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>as a common sailor, -- because the sailors live in the forecastle, forward of the foremast.</cd> -- <col>Before the wind</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>in the direction of the wind and by its impulse; having the wind aft.</cd></cs>