aforehandadv.adj.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 259 Non suche plente was i-seie in none tyme þere aforhonde [L. nulla retro ætas].

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 1701 (MED) Appollo is in his chare schynende, As we wer wont a-fornhand for to se.

a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 218 (MED) Dronknesse..puttyth away al the remembrance of thynges wych weryn afor-honde vndyrstonde.

a1640 J. Fletcher et al. Faire Maide of Inne ii. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Eeeeeee4/2 Since nature afore-hand cozend him of his wit, twas the lesse sinne for us to cozen him of his mony.

1858 Southern Presbyterian Rev. 11 17 And if the greatest offenders, and such as have aforehand sinned most grievously against God, have when they afterward come to believe, forgiveness of their sins, [etc.].

1898 T. Hardy Wessex Poems (1899) 124 She lives, in a plenteous well-being, To-day as aforehand.

2003 P. Luchessa Achilles in Calif. iv. 151 Yet he did not slake his firy flame with base and brutish act as he were aforehand wont to do.

a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) 377 (MED) Of that he seid afor the hond, My fader alwey soth fond.

c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 118 (MED) Afore þe takyng of þe ffrutis of the ffirst ȝere, þey schall pay afore-handes to þe foresaide Munckes þe rent.]

a1500 (a1450) Generides (Trin. Cambr.) 2125 (MED) He hadde [of] knyghtes vj thowsand..In euery warde was poynted afore hand.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark xiv. f. lxvj She cam a fore honde to anoynt my boddy to his buryinge warde.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 462 Here was a consent, Knowing aforehand of our meriment, To dash it lik a Christmas Comedie. View more context for this quotation

1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre v. xxii. 266 In nature of wages ex pacto contracted for aforehand.

1662 J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Trilinguis lxi. 162 If thou would'st order thy self handsomely, thou hast need to be acquainted aforehand with..the make and temper of thy natural inclinations.

1710 W. Oldisworth Dial. Timothy & Philatheus II. vi. 35 The Business to be transacted in Ecclesiastical Synods, should be prepared aforehand, and made Publick.

1792 Analytical Rev. Aug. 393 For every thing, a bargain must be made aforehand.

1830 J. Banim Denounced III. xvi. 149 ‘How did they know it was he?’ ‘By reason of seeing him, an' hearing him talked of in Dublin aforehand, Masther Dan.’

1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. iii. 17 This is the drunken old chap..wot had offered..to make a hole in the water for a quartern of rum stood aforehand, and kept to his word for the first and last time in his life.

1915 Forum Jan. 73 Thee'm a blasted fool..! If I'd reckoned with the make of you aforehand, you should not have had my one girl.

2008 V. Lane In Dark Season vii. 67 They got this all set up aforehand, I make no doubt.

1533 T. More Apol. xxi, in Wks. 881/2 The tother had heard an incling whiche yet he belieued not, that this man was not much afore hande.

1586 R. Lane in R. Hakluyt Principal Navigations 746 I (being aforehand) prepared what I would desire, craued at his hands that it would please him to take with him into England a number of weake, and vnfit men for my good action.

1626 F. Bacon New Atlantis 8 in Sylua Syluarum The Strangers House is at this time Rich, and much aforehand; For it hath layd vp reuenew.

a1649 King Charles I Effata Regalia (1661) 170 Rebbels prevent the King in their purposes, as well as their injuries, who are much aforehand in their preparations against him.

1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 352 A Couple of Guineas will be of Use to Mrs. Mumford, who I doubt has not much aforehand.

1748 S. Richardson Clarissa III. xxxvi. 186 She lives very reputably, and is..aforehand in the world.

1861 H. Mayhew London Labour (new ed.) III. 349/2 They hadn't nothing aforehand. They dropped away gradual.

1570 T. Wilson tr. Demosthenes 3 Orations 45 Valiant Capitaynes must neuer follow after occasions lost, but rather must preuent them, and be aforehande with them in tyme.

1614 W. Browne Shepheards Pipe sig. E7 What must he be aforehand with his maister?

1747 S. Richardson Clarissa II. xlii. 286 A sagacity that is aforehand with events.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. viii. 37 Let me for once be aforehand with my Uncle.

1837 Picaroon I. 50 To be aforehand with the day..is the way to make a premium on time.

1900 W. E. W. Collins Scholar of College xviii. 255 But Master Dick he was aforehand with me. He just toppled him into the ditch.

1907 Gateway Aug. 33/1 Tell Oswald the Pope has been aforehand with him.