Standard Lemma guide

premodern

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: P R IY0 M AO1 D ER0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Preceding or predating the modern era.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a premodern Chinese sculpture

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh2- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh2i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English modern English premodern From pre- + modern.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 前現代 /前现代 — predating the modern era
  • German: vormodern — predating the modern era
  • German: prämodern — predating the modern era