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That part of the Mass which the priest reads before uncovering the chalice to offer up the elements for consecration.

In general, that which is set off, from, before, or against, something; as: --

By virtue of; with the pledge of; -- denoting a pledge or engagement, and put before the thing pledged; as, he affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honor.

Toward a point before or in front; forward; progressively; as, to move onward. Not one looks backward, onward still he goes. Pope.

Placed directly in front of another part or organ, as a stamen which stands before a petal.

Ere; before; sooner than. [Obs.] But natheless, while I have time and space, Or that I forther in this tale pace. Chaucer. Or ever, Or ere. See under Ever, and Ere.

Before unused or unknown; new; as, a book full of original matter. Original sin (Theol.), the first sin of Adam, as related to its consequences to his descendants of the human race; -- called also total depravity. See Calvinism.

A summoner whose office is to cite men before the sheriff. [Obs.]

In the fore part of the night last past; in the evening before; also, during the night; as, the candle will not last overnight. I had been telling her all that happened overnight. Dickens.

To carry over, or back, as type, from one line or page into the next after, or next before.

judges of assize about to hold court, directing them to hear and determine cases brought before them. In the U.S. the phrase is used to designate certain criminal courts.

Hear; attend; -- a term used by criers of courts to secure silence before making a proclamation. It is repeated three times. [Written also oyes.]

A shore for bracing a timber before it is fastened. English pale (Hist.), the limits or territory within which alone the English conquerors of Ireland held dominion for a long period after their invasion of the country in 1172. Spencer.

nciently borne or worn as a symbol of victory or rejoicing. A great multitude . . . stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palme in their hands. Rev. vii. 9.

The Sunday next before Easter; -- so called in commemoration of our Savior's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when the multitude strewed palm branches in the way.

lolo viridis) that burrows in the coral reefs of certain of the Pacific Islands. A little before the last quarter of the moon in October and November, they swarm in vast numbers at the surface of the sea for breeding, and are gathered and highly esteemed as food by the natives. An allied species inhabits the tropical A…

signifying all, every; as, panorama, pantheism, pantagraph, pantograph. Pan- becomes pam- before b or p, as pamprodactylous.

once, and so exhibited a part at a time, by being unrolled, and made to pass continuously before the spectator.

rinted or written instrument; a document, essay, or the like; a writing; as, a paper read before a scientific society. They brought a paper to me to be signed. Dryden.

rderly arrangement or display of troops, in full equipments, for inspection or evolutions before some superior officer; a review of troops. Parades are general, regimental, or private (troop, battery, or company), according to the force assembled.