Fore, adv. [AS. fore, adv. & prep., another form of for. See For, and cf. Former, Foremost.].

In the part that precedes or goes first; -- opposed to aft, after, back, behind, etc. [1913 Webster]

Formerly; previously; afore. [1913 Webster]
"The eyes, fore duteous, now converted are." [1913 Webster]

In or towards the bows of a ship. [1913 Webster]

Fore and aft (Naut.), from stem to stern; lengthwise of the vessel; -- in distinction from athwart. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Fore-and-aft rigged (Naut.), not rigged with square sails attached to yards, but with sails bent to gaffs or set on stays in the midship line of the vessel. See Schooner, Sloop, Cutter.

Fore, a. [See Fore, adv.].

Advanced, as compared with something else; toward the front; being or coming first, in time, place, order, or importance; preceding; anterior; antecedent; earlier; forward; -- opposed to back or behind; as, the fore part of a garment; the fore part of the day; the fore and of a wagon. [1913 Webster]
" Fore is much used adjectively or in composition." [1913 Webster]

"The free will of the subject is preserved, while it is directed by the fore purpose of the state." [1913 Webster]

"I have . . . paid
More pious debts to heaven, than in all
The fore end of my time."

"Sailed on smooth seas, by fore winds borne."

Fore, n.

The front; hence, that which is in front; the future. [1913 Webster]

At the fore (Naut.), at the fore royal masthead; -- said of a flag, so raised as a signal for sailing, etc. -- To the fore. (a) In advance; to the front; to a prominent position; in plain sight; in readiness for use. (b) In existence; alive; not worn out, lost, or spent, as money, etc. [Irish] “While I am to the fore.” W. Collins. “How many captains in the regiment had two thousand pounds to the fore?” Thackeray.

Fore, prep.

Before; -- sometimes written 'fore as if a contraction of afore or before. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Fore, adj., n., int., & prep.
--adj. situated in front.
--n. the front part, esp. of a ship; the bow.
--int. Golf a warning to a person in the path of a ball.
--prep. archaic (in oaths) in the presence of (fore God).

Idiom

come to the fore take a leading part. fore and aft at bow and stern; all over the ship. fore-and-aft adj. (of a sail or rigging) set lengthwise, not on the yards. to the fore in front; conspicuous.

Etymology

OE f. Gmc.: (adj. & n.) ME f. compounds with FORE-

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THESAURUS

Fore
ahead, ancient, ante, antecedent, anterior, anteriority, anticipatory, beforehand, bold front, brave face, brave front, chief, ci-devant, display, earlier, early, elder, erstwhile, facade, face, facet, facia, first, forefront, foregoing, foreground, forehand, foreland, foremost, forepart, forequarter, foreside, foreword, former, forward, front, front elevation, front man, front matter, front page, front view, frontage, frontal, frontier, frontispiece, head, heading, headmost, immemorial, in advance, lap, late, leading, obverse, old, olden, older, once, onetime, past, preceding, precurrent, preexistent, preface, prefix, prehistoric, previous, primary, prime, primeval, primitive, prior, priority, proscenium, quondam, recent, senior, sometime, then, window dressing

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ROGET THESAURUS

Fore

Front
N front, fore, forepart, foreground, face, disk, disc, frontage, facade, proscenium, facia, frontispiece, anteriority, obverse (of a medal or coin), fore rank, front rank, van, vanguard, advanced guard, outpost, first line, scout, brow, forehead, visage, physiognomy, phiz, countenance, mut, rostrum, beak, bow, stem, prow, prore, jib, pioneer, metoposcopy, fore, anterior, front, frontal, before, in front, in the van, in advance, ahead, right ahead, forehead, foremost, in the foreground, in the lee of, before one's face, before one's eyes, face to face, vis-a-vis, front a front, formosa muta commendatio est, frons est animi janua, Human face divine, imago animi vultus est indices oculi, sea of upturned faces, front, fore, forepart, foreground, face, disk, disc, frontage, facade, proscenium, facia, frontispiece, anteriority, obverse (of a medal or coin), fore rank, front rank, van, vanguard, advanced guard, outpost, first line, scout, brow, forehead, visage, physiognomy, phiz, countenance, mut, rostrum, beak, bow, stem, prow, prore, jib, pioneer, metoposcopy, fore, anterior, front, frontal, before, in front, in the van, in advance, ahead, right ahead, forehead, foremost, in the foreground, in the lee of, before one's face, before one's eyes, face to face, vis-a-vis, front a front, formosa muta commendatio est, frons est animi janua, Human face divine, imago animi vultus est indices oculi, sea of upturned faces.

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