el antemano
in advance
Con tiempo y antes de que algo pase.
Definition & meaning
"Antemano" is a Spanish adverbial term, almost always used in the phrase de antemano, which translates to "in advance," "beforehand," or "ahead of time" in English. It is used to indicate that an action or event takes place prior to another event or a specific moment in time.
Commonly, it appears in formal and informal correspondence to express gratitude for a future action, such as "gracias de antemano" (thanks in advance). It can also be used to describe preparation or knowledge acquired before a certain situation occurs.
Grammar & Word origin
The word is a compound formed by two elements:
- Ante: A preposition meaning "before" or "in front of."
- Mano: A noun meaning "hand."
The literal etymological sense suggests something that is "before the hand" or "ready at hand" before it is needed. In modern Spanish, "antemano" functions as a noun that usually forms part of an adverbial phrase. It does not change based on gender or number.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
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Examples
Quiero agradecerte de antemano por tu ayuda.noun
I want to thank you in advance for your help.
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