[ad. med.L. antetemplum, f. ante before + templum temple, transl. Gr. πρόνᾱος PRONAOS.] The portico of an ancient temple or of a Christian church; also applied to the ante-nave of a church.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1721), 136. The Temple is an oblong square … in length sixty-four [yards], of which eighteen were taken up by the Πρόναος or Anti-Temple.
1711. Bingham, Chr. Antiq. (1840), III. VIII. § 3. 394. The narthex or ‘antetemple,’ where the penitents and catechumens stood.
1876. Gwilt, Encycl. Archit., 1284. Narthex … an antetemple or vestibule outside the church; it is thus used as synonymous with porch and portico.
