Before — Law Dictionary

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Prior to; preceding. In the presence of; under the official purview of; as in a magistrate's Jurat, "before me personally appeared," etc. In the absence of any statutory provision foverning the computation of time, the authorities are uniform that, where an act is required to be done a certain number of days or weeks before a certain other day upon which another act is to be done, the day upon which the first act is done is to be excluded from the computation. and the whole number of days or weeks must intervene before the day fixed for doing the second act. Ward v. Walters, 63 Wis. 44, 22 N. W. 844, and cases cited.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

Preceding in time or space; in presence

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

See After; Ante; Coram; On. Before the twenty-eighth of a month means by the twenty-seventh, at least.^ Before a given day excludes that day.' Before the court. When a matter, by regular proceeding, is made to engage or receive the direct attention of a court, for the purpose of decision, it is said to be or to be pending "before the court." See Decision; ' Dictum. ( A certificate by a clerk that a complaint was sworn to "before said court" raises a presumption that this was done in court.' Before trial. May mean before pleading to the merits,* — implies that a suit has been commenced.' BEGGHSra. See vagrant. The act of a cripple who stands upon a sidewalk and in silence holds out his hand for money from passers-by is " begging for alms." i*"