devant

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French

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /də.vɑ̃/
  • Audio:(file)

Etymology 1

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From de +‎ avant.

Preposition

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devant

  1. confronted with, faced with
  2. in front of, before
    Antonym: derrière
  3. outside
Derived terms
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Adverb

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devant

  1. in front, at the front
    Il marchait devant.
    He was walking in front.
    Mets-toi devant !
    Stand in front!

Noun

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devant m (plural devants)

  1. front
Derived terms
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Etymology 2

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See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Participle

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devant

  1. present participle of devoir

Further reading

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Middle French

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Alternative forms

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  • devãt (some manuscripts)

Preposition

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devant

  1. in front of; before
  2. before (with respect to time)
    • 1488, Jean Dupré, Lancelot du Lac, page 23:
      devant que tu partes perdras le poing en lieu de mon escu
      before you leave you will lose your hand for my shield [which you lost]

Old French

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Preposition

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devant

  1. in front of