(ˈ)prō+ noun
( plural pronaoi )
Etymology: Latin, from Greek, from pronaos situated in front of a temple, from pro- pro- (I) + naos temple — more at naos
: the outer part of an ancient Greek temple forming a portico immediately in front of the cella and delimited by the front wall of the cella and the columns or the antae and columns ; also : the narthex of an early church