الأَمَامُ

The location that is before; (M, Msb, * K;) opposite of الوَرَاءُ. (M, K.) It is used [absolutely] as a noun, and adverbially, (M, Msb, * K,) necessarily prefixed to another noun: (Mgh:) and is feminine, (Ks, M,) and sometimes mase.: (M, K:) or it is mase., and sometimes feminine as meaning the جِهَة: or, as Zj says, they differ as to making it masculine and making it feminine (Msb.) You say, كُنْتُ أَمَامَهُ I was before him, in respect of place. (S.) In the saying of Mohammad, to Usámeh, الصلَاةُ أَمَامَكَ, the meaning is The time of prayer [is before thee], or the place thereof; and by the prayer is meant the prayer of sunset. (Mgh.) You also say, أَمَامَكَ [i. c. Look before thee; meaning beware thou; or take thou note;] when you caution another, (M, K,) or notify him, of a thing. (M.)