antewar
|an-te-war|
🇺🇸
/ˈæntiˌwɔr/
🇬🇧
/ˈæntiˌwɔː/
before a war
Etymology
'antewar' originates from Latin, specifically the prefix 'ante' meaning 'before', combined with the English word 'war'.
'Ante-' is a Latin prefix meaning 'before'; 'war' is an English word with older Germanic and Old French roots. The compound 'antewar' is a modern English formation (recorded in the 19th–20th century) used to denote things from before a war.
Initially it meant simply 'before a war'; over time the usage narrowed in contexts such as 'antewar architecture' or 'antewar period' but the basic meaning has remained.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
existing or occurring before a particular war (often used to describe buildings, periods, styles, or conditions that date from before a major war).
The neighborhood is valued for its antewar apartment buildings.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/23 13:57