a latin preposition and prefix; akin to gr. 'anti`, skr. anti, goth. and-, anda- (only in comp.), as. and-, ond-, (only in comp.: cf. answer, along), g. ant-, ent- (in comp.). the latin ante is generally used in the sense of before, in regard to position, order, or time, and the gr. 'anti` in that of opposite, or in the place of.