pre-

¹

1. a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, where it meant “before” ( preclude; prevent ); applied freely as a prefix, with the meanings “prior to,” “in advance of,” “early,” “beforehand,” “before,” “in front of,” and with other figurative meanings ( preschool; prewar; prepay; preoral; prefrontal ).

P.R.E.

²

abbreviation for

1. Petroleum Refining Engineer.

pre-

prefix

1. before in time, rank, order, position, etc

   pre-eminent

   prefrontal

   premeditation

   preschool

   predate

Word History and Origins

Origin of pre-¹

< Latin prae-, prefixal use of prae (preposition and adv.); akin to first, fore-, prior ¹, pro ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pre-¹

from Latin prae-, from prae before, beforehand, in front