anteambulon.
/ˌantɪˈambjᵿləʊ/, U.S. /ˌæn(t)iˈæmbjəˌloʊ/ A person whose job it is to walk in front of another; esp. an usher; also figurative. Now spec. in Roman History: a client who walked in front of his patron to clear the way.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > one who walks before his master
treader1552
apparitor1561
anteambulo1598
antecedent1608
anteman1638
1598 S. Gosson Trumpet of Warre sig. F6v When he went abrode he had certaine Anteambulones, some that ran before him.
1609 W. M. Man in Moone sig. D [A Seruingman] is the Ante-ambulo of a Gentle woman, the consequent of a Gentleman.
1641 H. Maisterson Serm. 18 An anteambulo to usher in a thousand pains.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Anteambulo, a Sergeant of the Mace to a Prince, a Verger or Gentleman-usher.
1755 Monthly Rev. Jan. 7 They who led the van in these processions, went by the derisory name of anteambulones, and shewed their zeal for their patron by clearing the way.
1808 Monthly Mag. 15 516 The Romans had an ante-ambulo whose express office it was to deliver messages.
1844 F. Metcalfe tr. W. A. Becker Gallus ii. ii. 219 Before the lectica went anteambulones, in order to clear a road through a crowd.
1914 J. C. Rolfe in tr. Suetonius Lives Caesars II. 284 (note) The anteambulo was the client who walked before his patron on the street and compelled people to make way for him.
2010 S. Dando-Collins Great Fire of Rome iii. 37 A patron's most lowly clients..were expected to act as his anteambulo, preceding their patron when he passed along the street, clearing the way for him.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1598