‖ pronaos Gr. and Lat. Antiq.
(prəʊˈneɪɒs)
Also 7 -on, 8 -us.
[L. pronāos (-us), a. Gr. πρόνᾱος (-ον) the hall of a temple, prop. adj. ‘situated in front of the temple’: see pro-2 and naos.]
The space in front of the naos, cell, or body of a temple, enclosed by the portico and the projecting side walls; the vestibule. Also, a similar vestibule in some early Christian churches: = narthex.
| 1613 T. Godwin Rom. Antiq. xx. (1614) 17 They had their pronäon, or Church-porch. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Pronaos or Pronaus,..a Church-Porch, or a Portico to a Palace, great Hall, or spacious Building. 1745 Pococke Descr. East II. ii. iii. x. 169 The architrave..continued from the front of the portico or pronaos to the side pillars. 1833 Penny Cycl. I. 140/2 Inner porticoes formed by the longitudinal extension of the flank walls,..forming what are distinguished as the pronaos and opisthodomus. |
| fig. 1894 Huxley Evol. & Ethics Pref. 8 If I had attempted to reply in full to the criticisms..I know not what extent of ground would have been covered by my pronaos. 1897 Bookman Nov. 235 A roomy niche in the pronaos of Fame. |