pre-


  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).

Origin of pre-

1
<Latin prae-, prefixal use of prae (preposition and adv.); akin to first, fore-, prior1, pro1
  • Also prae- .

Other definitions for P.R.E. (2 of 2)

P.R.E.

abbreviation
  1. Petroleum Refining Engineer.

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How to use pre- in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pre-

pre-

prefix
  1. before in time, rank, order, position, etc: predate; pre-eminent; premeditation; prefrontal; preschool

Origin of pre-

1
from Latin prae-, from prae before, beforehand, in front

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