Indicating new, experimental, or ahead-of-its-time styles, especially in art and culture (as in 'avant-garde').
From Old French 'avant' (before), from Latin 'abante' (from before), meaning literally ahead in position, metaphorically ahead in time.
In 'avant-garde,' French literally means 'before-guard'—the military scouts who go ahead—which is perfect because experimental artists ARE culture's scouts, exploring territory others haven't reached yet.
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