What does "ere" mean?
Obsolete form of ear.
Ere
/ɛə/ adv, conj, contraction, name, noun, prep, slang
adv, conj, contraction, name, noun, prep, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Obsolete form of ear.
- Grammar: ere is listed as adv, conj, contraction, name, noun, prep, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: already, ante, before, before.
- Useful contrasts: after, delayed, late.
- Usage evidence: In the act of offering up his last prayer ere he made up his mind to float and be eaten, he saw a man look over the quarter of the brig : he raised both his hands ; he jumped himself up in the water, and, by the singularity of his motions fortunately attracted notice.
How to use "ere"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ere" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ere" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ere" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ere" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ere" is acting as adv, conj, contraction, name, noun, prep, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "already" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ere", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Obsolete form of ear. alt-of, obsolete
"As plesaunt to the ere as the blacke sanctus Of a sad sorte vpon a mery pyn."
Adverb
- 1 At an earlier time. not-comparable, obsolete
"Thys is he of whome I ſpake / he that cõmeth after me / was befoꝛe me be cauſe he was yer thẽ I."
Preposition
- 1 Before; sooner than. archaic, poetic
"My ſelfe was ſtirring ere the breake of day, […]"
Conjunction
- 1 before. archaic, poetic
"Syꝛ, come downe ere my child die."
Contraction
- 1 A contraction of is, there, and the indefinite article. Mainly used in questions. Ireland, contraction, informal
"'Ere bit o' bacon in it, Kathleen?"
Proper Noun
- 1 A language spoken on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
Example
"In the act of offering up his last prayer ere he made up his mind to float and be eaten, he saw a man look over the quarter of the brig : he raised both his hands ; he jumped himself up in the water, and, by the singularity of his motions fortunately attracted notice."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ere"?
Common synonyms include: already, ante, before, before, before all, earlier.
How do you use "ere" in a sentence?
In the act of offering up his last prayer ere he made up his mind to float and be eaten, he saw a man look over the quarter of the brig : he raised both his hands ; he jumped himself up in the water, and, by the singularity of his motions fortunately attracted notice.
How do you pronounce "ere"?
Pronounced /ɛə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English er, from Old English ǣr (adverb, conjunction, and preposition), from Proto-West Germanic *airi, from Proto-Germanic *airiz, comparative of Proto-Germanic *airi (“early”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éyeri (“day, morning”) (compare Avestan 𐬀𐬫𐬀𐬭 (ayar, “day”), Gk. ἠέριος (ēérios, “at daybreak”), see also era, Albanian herët (“early in the morning, at daybreak”) ). The adverb erstwhile retains the Old English superlative ǣrest (“earliest”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian eer (“before”), Dutch eer (“before, sooner than”), German ehe (“before”).
Etymology 2
Formed from is + there + a/an.