avant la lettre

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from French avant la lettre (literally “before the letter”). === Prepositional phrase === avant la lettre (idiomatic) Before the term was coined (the term being a word or phrase used just previously in an anachronistic way) ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== retronym proto proto- === References === “avant la lettre”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. == Dutch == === Etymology === From French avant la lettre. === Prepositional phrase === avant la lettre avant la lettre == French == === Etymology === From a caption added to an engraving to describe the drawing. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /a.vɑ̃ la lɛtʁ/ === Prepositional phrase === avant la lettre (literally, engraving) before lettering, before letters; proof engraving, proof before letters Antonyms: après la lettre, avec la lettre épreuve, gravure avant la lettre ― print made before the caption is added (figuratively) avant la lettre (before the term was coined) ==== See also ==== avant l'heure