pronaos

noun

pro·​naos

(ˈ)prō+

plural pronaoi

: the outer part of an ancient Greek temple forming a portico immediately in front of the cella and delimited by the front wall of the cella and the columns or the antae and columns

also : the narthex of an early church

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek, from pronaos situated in front of a temple, from pro- pro- entry 1 + naos temple

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