devant

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /də.vɑ̃/

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Etymology 1

From de +‎ avant. False cognate of Indonesian and Malay depan, despite the high similarity of both words in definition and pronunciation.

Preposition

devant

1. confronted with, faced with
2. in front of, before

   Antonym: derrière

3. outside

Derived terms

• au-devant de
• devancer
• devant l'Éternel
• sens devant derrière

Adverb

devant

1. in front, at the front

   Il marchait devant.

   He was walking in front.

   Mets-toi devant !

   Stand in front!

Noun

devant m (plural devants)

1. front

Derived terms

• prendre les devants
• sur le devant de la scène

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Participle

devant

1. present participle of devoir

Further reading

• “devant”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Middle French

Alternative forms

• devãt (some manuscripts)

Preposition

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

Preposition

devant

1. in front of
   • c. 1170, Chrétien de Troyes, Érec et Énide:

     Et devant aus un nain boçu

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)