† aforˈnens, prep. and adv. Obs.
[A combination of aforen (see afore) and aȝean, aȝen, again, in which the former word appears as aforn, afore, afor, and the latter as -ayen, -eyen, -yen, -eye, -ye, or (from the adv. gen. aȝenes) as -ayens, eyens, -yens, -ens. Those in -s are mostly northern. Cf. OE. foran-onᵹeanes: see fornenst.]
A. prep.
1. Over against, opposite. fig. Before, in the presence of.
| 1250 Layamon 18529 Þar sat Vther þe king{revsc} in his heȝe setle. Aforneȝen him Gorlois. 1340 Ayenb. 18 He is wel vileyn and ontrewe auoreye his lhord. 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 1139 The yondur house, that stent aforeyens us. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. viii. 899 Set ewyn a-for-nens Berwyke. |
2. With regard to, in respect of, as concerns.
| 1340 Ayenb. 24 Auorye þet bodi: ase helþe, uayrhede..Auorye þe ȝaule: ase clier wyt. Ibid. 129 Ysy hou þou art fyeble and brotel, and a-uorye þet body and a-uorye þe ȝaule. |
B. adv. [obj. omitted.] Over against, opposite.
| 1388 Wyclif Mark xv. 39 The centurien that stood aforn aȝens. |