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avant

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avant la lettre

Before something (a word, phrase, name, or specific entity, especially that which is anachronistic) was coined or created. From the French meaning "before the letter." So-called "hipsters" have always existed avant la lettre, but it's only in the last few decades that we've attempted to create a label for them.

See also: avant, la

the avant-garde

the artists, writers, musicians etc. of any period whose work is very modern and very different to what has been done before Since 1948, the exhibition has been a major showcase for the avant-garde.