πρίν ((according to 
Curtius, § 380 comparitive 
προιον, 
προιν, 
πρίν)), as in Greek writings from 
Homer down: 
1. an adverb 
previously,formerly (cf. 
πάλαι, 1): 3Macc. 5:28 3Macc. 6:4, 31; but never so in the N. T. 
2. with the force of a conjunction, 
before, before that: with an accusative and aorist infinitive of things past (cf. 
Winers Grammar, § 44, 6 at the end; 
Buttmann, § 142, 3); 
πρίν Ἀβραάμ γενέσθαι, before Abraham existed, came into being, 
John 8:58; also 
πρίν ἤ (cf. Meyer on 
Matthew 1:18), 
Matthew 1:18; (
Acts 7:2); with an aorist infinitive haying the force of the Latin future perfect, of things future (cf. 
Winer's Grammar, 332 (311)): 
πρίν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι, before the cock shall have crowed, 
Matthew 26:34, 
75; 
Mark 14:72; 
Luke 22:61; add, 
John 4:49; 
John 14:29; also 
πρίν ἤ, 
Mark 14:30; 
Acts 2:20 (where 
L T Tr WH text omit 
ἤ); 
πρίν ἤ, preceded by a negative sentence (
Buttmann, § 139, 35), with the aorist subjunctive having the force of a future perfect in Latin (
Buttmann, 231 (199)), 
Luke 2:26 (
R G L T Tr marginal reading, but 
WH brackets 
ἤ), and 
R G in 
Luke 22:34; 
πρίν ἤ, followed by the optative of a thing as entertained in thought, 
Acts 25:16 (
Winers Grammar, 297 (279); 
Buttmann, 230 (198)). Cf. 
Matthiae, § 522, 2, p. 1201f; Alexander 
Buttmann (1873) Gram. § 139, 41; 
Klotz ad Devar. ii. 2, p. 720ff; 
Winers Grammar (and 
Buttmann), as above. 
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