vornherein

Vornherein is a German adverb meaning from the outset or from the very beginning. It is used to indicate that a judgment, decision, or condition has been in place since the start of a situation. In sentences it often refers to a stance or expectation that existed before any further development, for example: Er war vornherein gegen das Vorhaben (He was against the plan from the outset).

Etymology and usage notes: The word is treated as a single, fixed adverb in modern German dictionaries, but it is commonly traced back to the longer expression von vornherein. The exact historical development is not always specified, but the contemporary usage conveys a starting point in time or attitude. It is roughly synonymous with phrases like von Anfang an or von vornherein, with vornherein lying at the core of the idea.

Typical usage: Vornherein tends to appear in formal, written, or analytical prose rather than casual speech. It can modify verbs, adjectives, or whole clauses to emphasize a pre-existing condition: vornherein festgelegt, vornherein abgelehnt, vornherein klar. The expression can introduce a position or assessment that remains unchanged as events unfold.

See also: German adverbs indicating time or stance; phrases like von Anfang an and von vornherein used to convey similar meanings.