dapprima
at first
adverb dahp-PREE-mah Rare
Origin: Contraction of da + prima (from + first), a fixed adverbial phrase.
Also means
initially
Usage Note
Dapprima is a formal or literary alternative to all'inizio or prima. It typically appears at the start of a clause and signals a later contrast: dapprima esitò, poi accettò ('at first she hesitated, then she accepted'). It is written as one word.
Examples
"Dapprima non capivo nulla."
Natural Translation
At first I understood nothing.

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