avant-courier – English noun declension

English noun forms of avant-courier

Noun: avant-courier
Singularavant-courier
Pluralavant-couriers

Sample Sentences

  • Mr Farrer reached Calcutta some time before them, announcing himself as the avant-courier of His Majesty's new court, in which he was to be the leading advocate. [1808–10, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, Folio Society 1995, p. 145]
  • Her heart sickened with impatience, the time seemed longer now that they drew so near; gradually, the long shadows mingled together, objects became confused, and it was necessary to light the lamps and flambeaux, and the avant-courier began to sound his horn: it was dangerous to risk meeting another carriage in the then state of the roads. [1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Return Home”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 309:]

Etymology

From French avant-coureur, with alteration of second element after courier. See: French Nouns 'avant-coureur'.