ær þon þe

Old English

Alternative forms

• ǣr þām þe

Conjunction

ǣr þon þe

1. before
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Clement the Martyr"

     Þa geendodum dagum þære freols-tide, com seo sǽ færlice swegende, and þæt folc swiðlice aweg efste, and þæt wíf ðurh ða færlican styrunge ne gymde hire cildes ǽrðan þe heo to lánde becom.

     When the days of the festival were ended, the sea came suddenly sounding, and the folk hastened away with all speed, and the woman, through the sudden tumult, heeded not her child before she came to land.

   • Genesis 45:28

     And hē cwæþ "Iċ hæbbe ġenōg ġif Iosep mīn sunu ġīet leofaþ. Iċ fare and ġesēo hine ǣr þām þe iċ swelte."

     And he said, "I have enough if my son Joseph is still alive. I'll go and see him before I die."