aforehand C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /əˈfɔrˌhænd/ UK /əˈfɔːhænd/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adv beforehand; in advance (archaic) She had prepared the rooms aforehand for the guests. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adv · beforehand; in advance... beforehandpreviouslyearlyaheadaforetime ↔ Opposites afterwardlaterbehindhand Word family Related forms aforebeforehandaforesaid Etymology AI details From afore + hand, modelled on beforehand; afore is from Old English onforan ('before, in front of'), from on + foran ('in front'). onforan Old English fore Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Register & Style External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # aforehand **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /əˈfɔrˌhænd/ **IPA (UK):** /əˈfɔːhænd/ ## Meanings 1. beforehand; in advance (archaic) ## Examples - She had prepared the rooms aforehand for the guests. ## Synonyms - beforehand - previously - early - ahead - aforetime ## Antonyms - afterward - later - behindhand ## Related Forms - afore - beforehand - aforesaid ## Roots and Affixes - Root: onforan - Root: fore ## Etymology From afore + hand, modelled on beforehand; afore is from Old English onforan ('before, in front of'), from on + foran ('in front'). ## AI Etymology Aforehand is an adverb meaning "beforehand; in advance (archaic)". Historically, it is from afore + hand, modelled on beforehand; afore is from Old English onforan ('before, in front of'), from on + foran ('in front'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: aforehand is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old English onforan with Old English fore. Close English family members include afore, beforehand, and aforesaid. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Register & Style markdown