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fore-

pref.

1. Before; earlier: foredoom.

2. In front of; front: foredeck.

[Middle English for-, fore-, from Old English, from fore, in front; see per¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

fore

(fôr)

adj.

1. Located at or toward the front; forward.

2. Earlier in order of occurrence; former.

1. Something that is located at or toward the front.

2. The front part.

adv.

1. At, toward, or near the front; forward.

2. At an earlier time.

prep. also 'fore

Before.

interj.
Sports

Used by a golfer to warn those ahead that a ball is headed in their direction.

Idiom:

to the fore

In, into, or toward a position of prominence: A new virtuoso has come to the fore.

[Middle English, beforehand, before, in front of, from Old English; see per¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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