Old-timey "before" (3)
I believe the answer is:
ere
'old-timey before' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for ere that I've seen before include "Before (in time)" , "Old prior" , "Archaic word for before - a palindrome" , "Old word for before" , "One who steals" .)