avant : Idioms & Phrases

Index

avant-courier

A*vant"-cou`ri*er noun
Etymology
F., fr. avant before + courrier. See Avaunt, and Courier.
Definitions
  1. A person dispatched before another person or company, to give notice of his or their approach.
Webster 1913

avant-garde

  • noun any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
    vanguard; van; new wave.
  • adjective satellite radically new or original
    daring.
    • an avant-garde theater piece
WordNet

avant-guard

A*vant"-guard` noun
Etymology
F. avant before + E. guard, F. avant-garde. See Avaunt.
Definitions
  1. The van or advanced body of an army. See Vanguard.
Webster 1913