innanzi

Etymology

It is inherited from Latin in anteā (“before, formerly”), a phrase of in (“in”) and anteā (“before, previously”).^{[2][3][1][4][5][6]} Nocentini instead derives it from Vulgar Latin *in antius, with the comparative of ante (“before”) that he also sees in anzi;^[7][2] DELI accepts both sources for that word.^[7][2] Devoto explains the doubled ⟨nn⟩ by the model of the compounds with ad-, which double the following consonant.^[8]

Dinanzi is formed in the same way with a further di.^[7][9] The Sicilian form is nnanzi.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first records are a Florentine bankers' book of 1211 and the Breve di Montieri of 1219, with the sense “forward, ahead”.^[2][7][3]

Semantic evolution

As a preposition, “in front of, in the presence of”, it is found as inançe in Guido Fava in 1242–1243, and the Novellino of the late 13th century has both the preposition “before” and the adverb “afterwards”.^[2] Dante uses the adverb for “earlier, in the past” (1300–1313), and the preposition of time in Quando fui desto innanzi la dimane (“when I woke before the morning”).^[2][3][10] Old Tuscan also had the variant innazi, and the sense “rather”.^[2]

The word formed many phrases: innanzi tratto “first of all” is of the 14th century, and in later centuries it was used as a prefix in calques of Latin, such as innanzinome for praenomen in the 18th century.^[11] Tommaseo records innanzi as a noun for a model to copy from.^[12] In modern Italian the word is literary, a less popular synonym of avanti.^[13][10][5] In the Florentine ball game calcio fiorentino the innanzi are the fifteen forwards.^[3]

Timeline

• 1211 – Innanzi “forward” appears in a Florentine bankers' book.^[2][7][3]
• 1219 – It is recorded in the Breve di Montieri.^[2]
• 1242–1243 – Guido Fava uses the preposition inançe.^[2]
• Late 13th century – The Novellino uses it for “afterwards” and “before”.^[2]
• 1300–1313 – Dante uses it for “earlier, in the past”.^[2]
• 14th century – Innanzi tratto “first of all” is recorded.^[11]
• 18th century – Innanzinome translates Latin praenomen.^[11]

Meanings

Adverb

1. (literary) forward, ahead, in front: Il più giovane si fece innanzi per primo.^{[3][4][10][13][14]}
2. (literary) Later, from then on: d'ora innanzi, from now on.^[3][13][10]
3. (literary) Earlier, previously: Ne abbiamo già parlato innanzi.^{[3][13][10][14]}

Preposition

1. In front of, in the presence of, usually innanzi a: Giurò innanzi al giudice.^{[3][13][14][10]}
2. (literary) Before (in time): innanzi l'alba.^[6][10][14]

Adjective

1. (invariable, after the noun) previous, before: la settimana innanzi.^{[3][6][10][1]}

Noun

1. (masculine, singular only) Time past or to come, especially in per l'innanzi, before or from then on.^[3][6]
2. (sport) In calcio fiorentino, each of the fifteen forwards, or attacking players.^[3]

Word family

• innanzitutto

Related words

• anzi
• dinanzi
• avanti

Usage notes

Innanzi di and innanzi che are literary conjunctions meaning “before”, and also “rather than”.^[13][14] Common phrases are tirare innanzi, to keep going or to get by, and essere innanzi negli anni, to be getting on in years.^[13][10][14] The old spelling was inanzi.^[4][10][9]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Cortelazzo, Manlio; Zolli, Paolo (1999), Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana, 2nd ed. by Manlio Cortelazzo and Michele A. Cortelazzo, Bologna: Zanichelli
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
4. ^ a b c Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b Duro, Aldo (ed.) (1986–1994), Vocabolario della lingua italiana, Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana; online ed. treccani.it/vocabolario (2008 copy)
6. ^ a b c d Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse
7. ^ a b c d e Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
8. ^ Devoto, Giacomo (1968), Avviamento alla etimologia italiana: dizionario etimologico, 2nd ed., Firenze: Le Monnier
9. ^ a b Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Vocabolario della lingua italiana Treccani (2011), Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana
11. ^ a b c Battisti, Carlo; Alessio, Giovanni (1950–1957), Dizionario etimologico italiano, 5 vols., Firenze: Barbèra (reprint 1975), p. 2037
12. ^ Tommaseo, Niccolò; Bellini, Bernardo (1861–1879), Dizionario della lingua italiana, 4 vols., Torino: UTET
13. ^ a b c d e f g Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli
14. ^ a b c d e f Gabrielli, Aldo (2020), Grande dizionario italiano, digital ed., Milano: Hoepli