/ ˌpriːˈmɒdɪfaɪə(r); NAmE -ˈmɑːd-/ noun
( grammar ) a word, such as an adjective or adverb, that describes another word or group of words, or restricts its/their meaning in some way, and is placed before it/them :
In 'a loud noise', the adjective 'loud' is a premodifier.
—compare modifier , postmodifier