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dinanzi

before

adverb dee-NAHN-tsee Less Common

Also means

in front

Usage Note

Dinanzi is a formal, literary equivalent of davanti ('in front, before'), almost always followed by a, as in dinanzi al giudice ('before the judge'). You will meet it in legal texts and elevated writing rather than everyday speech.

Examples

"Si fermò dinanzi alla porta."

Natural Translation

He stopped in front of the door.

Literal Translation

Himself he-stopped before to-the door.

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