before (earlier) is areten

areten = before (earlier) (adverb, preposition) (some things Google found for "areten": an uncommon to rare term; user names; Areten-draty seems to be the title of a Madagascar music video by Tinondia; a rare first name; Areten Limited is a software development company in London; similar arête is a sharp ridge of rock; similar Aretun is a place in Norway)

Word derivation for "before (earlier than in time)":
Basque = aurretik, Finnish = ennen
Miresua = areten

Alice had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, in paragraph three Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.