[before and hand.] In a state of anticipation or preoccupation; often followed by with; as, you are before hand with me.

1. Antecedently; by way of preparation or preliminary; aforetime. Mark 13:11; 1 Timothy 5:24, 25.

2. In a state of accumulation, so as that more has been received than expended. A man is beforehand. In this use it is more properly an adjective.

3. At first; before any thing is done.