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French, literally “before,” in various terms borrowed into English, corresponding to Italian avanti, both from Latin abante, a compound of ab “from” (see ab-) and ante “before” (see ante).
Contemporary Examples

avant Garde became the font du jour and Helvetica continued its ride to the top.
Eight Best Bits of John Taylor’s Duran Duran Tell-All Tom Sykes October 20, 2012

And, as the enigmatic front man to an avant garde indie rock group, he is droll, perceptive, and splendidly weird.
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’ Marlow Stern January 5, 2015

One, called Zoo Bar, was one of the most avant garde nightclubs in London.
‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Lisa Vanderpump Dishes Nicole LaPorte February 5, 2012

Historical Examples

Their fame always preceded them as an avant courier, and crowds congregated to hear them.
The Haunted Homestead E. D. E. N. Southworth

As I was saying, cheek in business generally is the avant courier of success.
A Pirate of Parts Richard Neville

Dans ltat actuel des choses, avant dix ans, toute lEurope peut tre cosaque, ou toute en rpublique.
Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 18 (of 20) Charles Sumner

We then started at a smart pace, but could not come up with our avant garde.
Soyer’s Culinary Campaign Alexis Soyer

If sin there has been it must have been taken away again—en souffrance, en esprance, avant qu’il est venu le jour.
The Tower of Oblivion Oliver Onions

True; but she comes as the avant courier to announce the arrival of her brother.
The Forty-Five Guardsmen Alexandre Dumas

Our patrol, or covering party, ran right across what was avant la guerre, the St. Julien Road.
At Ypres with Best-Dunkley Thomas Hope Floyd