Obs. Also 4, 6 for-. [f. FORE- pref. + LEADER.] One who leads the advance; a chief or principal leader.

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c. 1300.  Cursor M., 14410 (Cott.). Þis moyses was þair for-leder.

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1535.  Joye, Apol. Tindale, 18. Christe is the first frutis and fore leader of them that sleap.

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1576.  Gascoigne, Diet for Drunkards (1789), 17. Would God that we learned not, by the foreleaders before named, to charge and coniure each other vnto the pledge.

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1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VII. v. § 1. Hengist for valour, policie, and strength, was the fore-leader.

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1648.  Herrick, Hesper. (1859), 326.

        Howe’er it fortuned, know for truth I meant
You a foreleader in this testament.

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1876.  Whitby Gloss., Fooreleader, chief captain.

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