What does "ere" mean?

Ere: 2. Rather than. I will be thrown into Etna, . . . ere I will leave her. Shak. Ere long, before, shortly. Shak. -- Ere now, formerly, heretofore. Shak. -- Ere that, and Or are. Same as Ere. Shak.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To plow. [Obs.] See Ear, v. t. Chaucer.

Sources