ANTEHALLWAY

Now, you might be wondering if you've seen this word before, or if your mind is trying to figure out if it's an actual word or not. Well, it kinda is, but it kinda isn't, at the same time. So I'm claiming it as a new word (which I "created", like I did when my old mate, Dave coined the word: 'flustrated = flustered + frustrated', before I looked it up just now, & discovered it's already on Merriam Websters site). But I'm pushing this word forward, because I was not satisfied with the answers I received when I went looking for it.

This is my definition of it:

'Antehallway': a smaller offshoot off a hallway, corridor, passage, etc. with two or three rooms leading directly off it; or having three doorways, two leading directly into other rooms, & the third opening to a cupboard, linen closets, etc.

When you Google this word, it does come up, however, it's not specific enough - especially for what I was looking to use it for. See, in screenwriting, specifics are a must - you literally do need to know what you're talking about, on the page - if you want to be a good writer, that is (the characters don't need to know it all, in fact, they shouldn't, but the writer should).

Origins

Back in March/April of this year, I asked Reddit what this area was called:

This image was taken from the image below.

I've had this picture for so long I had to use Google Lens to see where I got it from. Apparently it's a Michael Hoare Builders Design, & by looking at the current home layout on that page, I can see it being an accurate fit (I also love to scroll through houses & homes in my downtime & checkout what's being sold where & how homes & places are looking. It's also how I kinda went viral on TikTok a few years ago ... I need to Blog about that!)

Anyway ... not only did I receive little to no help/insight on this, but I was met with a nauseating amount of responses from some Redditors who’ve clearly never seen something then questioned why that something is what it is - as in, I acknowledge seeing them say it's a hallway, but to not look at it & think further, as to why I'm asking it? Or the specifics within the red circle? (Although, I must admit, my own arrogance, &/or my AuDHD does stand in my way sometimes! Especially when I have the belief that people are smart enough to understand where I'm coming from/what I'm asking, before they prove me wrong.)

See, I’m under the belief that EVERYTHING within the English language has a word that describes it. Or it'll have a phrase, a term, a something. Whatever! Even if it is a borrowed word from another language (though, that's literally what the English language is).

So, that’s why I went there to ask that question, because this area is too specific of an architectural design to not, at least, have its own defining definition- but boy, was I mistaken!

Now, I eventually came to my own conclusion that this area could be called a ‘Hallway Junction’ if I used an Open Compound, but after many months of thought – this still doesn’t sit right with me. & then, the actual word revealed itself (& was even suggested in the comments) – Antechamber. At the time, though, I didn’t think it was right, & I still don’t now.

I do know the word - Anteroom does already exist - & that should’ve been the word I settled on (also: antechamber is used interchangeably with this one, sometimes in a more formal sense – but that words definitions are covered by its former so I won’t repeat them again). However, when you hear the word ‘room’ or ‘chamber’ you think of a space where you could comfortably swing a cat around (don’t do that, though!) So, that lead me down the passage of looking into alternatives.

A standard hallway is just under a metre wide [that's 36 inches across] & with having that word [hallway] already there, you’re in the right frame of mind of it being a transitional space – a place where you’d most likely wouldn’t stop unless for some specific reason that would probably have nothing to do with the area itself – unless cleaning it, changing a lightbulb, upkeep, etc.

& then a hall itself is usually thought of as a bigger-ish room, like this picture below.

Westminster Hall taken by Kenneth George

& that’s why I’ve come up with: Antehallway.

Now to break this down, I’ll provide each definition so you can see my thought process.

The Definitions:

Hallway

Collins Dictionary

1. countable noun

A hallway in a building is a long passage with doors into rooms on both sides of it.

2. countable noun

A hallway in a house or flat is the area just inside the front door, into which some of the other rooms open.

[British]

Cambridge Dictionary 

a hall.

Merriam Webster

1: an entrance hall

2: corridor sense 1’

& off the click on the second point, I’ll only use the first definition:

‘1 a: a passageway (as in a hotel or office building) into which compartments or rooms open

& lastly, in my native land – in Australian English (& fully disclosure – I pinched this from Google as I didn’t want to sign up to the website when all the others gave this answer freely, so I’m unsure if this is accurate or not, but by now, it should be clear what ‘hallway’ means) …

Macquarie Dictionary

a hallway (or hall) is defined as a long, narrow passage or corridor in a building or house. It connects different rooms, or serves as the entrance area just inside the front door.

Anterooms

Collins Dictionary

An anteroom is a small room leading into a larger room.

Cambridge Dictionary

a small room, especially a waiting room, that leads into a larger, more important room

Merriam Webster

a small outer room that leads to another room and that is often used as a waiting room

Macquarie Dictionary

(again, Google sourced)

—the standard authority for—an anteroom (noun) is defined as a smaller room that serves as an entryway or waiting area leading into a larger, more important room.

Ante-

(So, with this word, I've removed the en dash (that doesn't even use an en-dash in it's own word even though it's that words meaning ...? This feels like a Blog at a later time. Anyway, back to it.) & I'm fusing this words prefix to tag onto 'hallway' to form this new one.)

Its defition:

Collins Dictionary

prefix

before in time or position; previous to; in front of

Cambridge Dictionary

before or in front of

&

Merriam Webster

1 a: prior: earlier antedate

b: anterior: forward anteroom

2: prior to: earlier than

(I could not get the Macquarie Dictionary meaning, however, you should have the point by now.)

Therefore:

Ante- [prefix]: before, prior, &/or in front of + Hallway: a long passage with doors leading off/into other rooms, + Anteroom: small room leading into a larger room = Antehallway.

You’re welcome, world.

P.S. Upon writing this, & doing some edits, I've discovered the term: hall node, but there's little to no info on it - again, flustrating, & not a word suggested in my original Reddit post, but if that link is to be believed, then that's the actual word/phrase/term/open compound I've been looking for this entire time, & I've just wasted a few hours on this Blog instead of the script I'm supposed to be editing where this missing word first brought all of this up. UGH! Haha.

Next, I just discovered this pose doesn’t have an actual name ...

I think this is called a pregnancy pose - all the pictures I've seen are of pregnant women doing it (so I'll refer to it as that until I'm told otherwise). Or it's the natural way to give birth? I dunno, but I'm sure someone has that Blogged already!

(& yes, ironically, I had to look into this for the exact same research for the script I'm working on L.O.L.)

If you've made it 'til the end, thanks for your time!

All the best.

Joel.