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t preceding Easter; Lent. Quadragesima Sunday, the first Sunday in Lent, about forty days before Easter.

A mill for grinding grain, the upper stone of which was turned by hand; -- used before the invention of windmills and watermills. Shak. They made him at the querne grind. Chaucer.

Fiftieth. Quinquagesima Sunday, the Sunday which is the fiftieth day before Easter, both days being included in the reckoning; -- called also Shrove Sunday.

you your meed. Chaucer. Enkindle all the sparks of nature To quit this horrid act. Shak. Before that judge that quits each soul his hire. Fairfax.

A writ brought before a proper tribunal, to inquire by what warrant a person or a corporation acts, or exercises certain powers. Blackstone.

(Math.), the sign sq. root (originally the letter r, the initial of radix, root), placed before any quantity, denoting that its root is to be extracted; thus, sq. roota, or sq. root(a + b). To indicate any other than the square root, a corresponding figure is placed over the sign; thus cube roota, indicates the third…

, barley, hops, etc.; toraise cattle. "He raised sheep." "He raised wheat where none grew before." Johnson's Dict.

A thin inner sole for a shoe; also, a leveling slip of leather applied to the sole before attaching the heel.

Early ripe; ripe before others, or before the usual season.

, is kept very low, in order that the shot may more effectually sweep or graze the ground before them. H. L. Scott.

ty of state of being rash. We offend . . . by rashness, which is an affirming or denying, before we have sufficiently informed ourselves. South.

Coming before others, or before the usual time; early. [Obs. or Poetic] Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies. Milton.

Earlier; sooner; before. [Obs.] Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I. Chaucer. A good mean to come the rather to grace. Foxe.

A detached work with two embankments with make a salient angle. It is raised before the curtain on the counterscarp of the place. Formerly called demilune and half-moon.

a barometer. Reading of a bill (Legislation), its normal recital, by the proper officer, before the House which is to consider it.

Made already, or beforehand, in anticipation of need; not made to order; as, ready-made clothing; ready-made jokes.

The last monitory, published after three admonitions and before the last excommunication.

; not fictitious or imaginary; as, a description of real life. Whereat I waked, and found Before mine eyes all real, as the dream Had lively shadowed. Milton.

ositions and the inferences from them; to argue. Stand still, that I may reason with you, before the Lord, of all the righteous acts of the Lord. 1 Sam. xii. 7.

hold; to contain; to have capacity fro; to be able to take in. The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings. 1 Kings viii. 64.