fornent

preposition

for·​nent
fə(r)ˈnent
variants or less commonly fernent or forenent or forninst
-ˈninzt,
-ˈnin(t)st
or less commonly fornenst
-ˈnenzt,
-ˈnen(t)st
or forenenst or ferninst
1
dialectal : in front of : opposite
a little square fornent the church
2
dialectal : near to : alongside of : beside, against
left the shovel fornent the fence

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots dialect) fornent, forenent, fornentis, from Middle English for-, fore- fore + anent or anentes anenst

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near fornent

Cite this Entry

“Fornent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fornent. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!