The word "ere" is a conjunction meaning "before" or "prior to". It is pronounced as /ɛr/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The spelling of the word comes from Middle English, where it was commonly used. The pronunciation has remained the same, but the usage of the word has become less frequent in modern English. It can still be found in literary works, particularly in poetry and historical texts. It is important to spell the word correctly when using it, as mispronunciation or misspelling can lead to confusion or misunderstanding.
"Ere" is a conjunction often used in formal and literary contexts to mean "before" or "prior to". It is derived from the Middle English word "er," which came from Old English "aer", meaning "before". "Ere" is typically used to establish a time frame or sequence of events and can also function as a preposition.
In terms of usage, "ere" is more commonly found in older texts or poetic works rather than in everyday conversation. It adds a touch of elegance and formality to the language. For example, one might say, "I shall finish my work ere the day is done," meaning that they will complete their tasks before the end of the day.
"Ere" can also function as an adverb, indicating an action that occurred in the past. For instance, "He sang ere he left the stage," suggests that the person sang before departing from the stage. In this sense, "ere" functions similar to the word "beforehand".
While the usage of "ere" has become somewhat antiquated in modern language, it can still be encountered in literature, poetry, or historical texts, adding a classical touch and imparting a sense of sophistication to the writing.
Before; sooner than.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "ere" is derived from Old English and Middle English languages. It can be traced back to the Old English word "ǣr" which means "before" or "previously". This word itself is a cognate of the Old High German word "ēr" and Old Norse word "fyrir", both having a similar meaning. Over time, the word "ǣr" evolved into "eare" in Middle English, and eventually simplified to "ere" in Modern English. Today, "ere" is primarily used in poetic or archaic contexts, usually as a conjunction meaning "before" or "prior to".