antechamber

noun

an·​te·​cham·​ber ˈan-ti-ˌchām-bər 

: anteroom

Did you know?

One expects to find an antechamber outside the private chambers of a Supreme Court Justice or leading into the great hall of a medieval castle. In the private end of the castle the lord's or lady's bedchamber would have its own antechamber, which served as a dressing room and sitting room, but could also house bodyguards if the castle came under siege. Anteroom is a less formal synonym, one that's often applied to the waiting rooms of professional offices today.

Examples of antechamber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But for the sake of social history, Miss Manners will try: Boudoir: a bedroom, or antechamber to one, where a lady receives her intimates. —Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024

The larynx functions like an antechamber to the windpipe, or trachea, with a flap of tissue called the epiglottis keeping food and drink from falling down the windpipe. —Kate Golembiewski, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024

Those who did not fit inside the council chambers watched the meeting livestream in the antechamber. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024

For the occasion, the Shed’s Griffin Theater greets guests with an antechamber cast in sepulchral light and hung with wall size images from Sakamoto’s life. —Max Lakin, New York Times, 25 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

French antichambre, from Middle French, from Italian anti- (from Latin ante-) + Middle French chambre room

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

antechamber

noun

an·​te·​cham·​ber ˈant-i-ˌchām-bər 

: anteroom