Meaning: before, in front of, prior to; old
Root word: Latin ante, antiquus
Roots with similar meanings:
- pro- meaning “before”
- archae- meaning “ancient”
Roots with opposite meanings:
- post– meaning “after”
- retro- meaning “backward”
Roots that could be confused:
- anti– meaning “against”
Notes: “Antegrade” and “anterograde” are often used interchangeably.
Derived English Words
Commonly encountered words are in bold.
Antedate: To occur or exist before a specified date; to assign a date to something that is earlier than its actual date.
Antebellum: Referring to the period before a war, especially the American Civil War.
Antediluvian: Referring to the time before the biblical Flood; often used to describe something very old or outdated.
Antemundane: Existing or occurring before the world or universe was formed.
Antecedent: A thing or event that precedes another; in grammar, it refers to the noun that a pronoun replaces.
Antechamber: A small room leading to a larger one; a waiting area before entering another space.
Antemortem: Occurring before death; used in medical and legal contexts.
Anticipate: To expect or look forward to something; to act in advance of an event.
Antegrade: Referring to a direction or movement forward; in medical contexts, it often describes the normal flow of bodily fluids or the forward movement of a surgical procedure.
Anterograde: Moving forward in time
Anterior: Located at or toward the front; in anatomy, it refers to structures that are positioned closer to the front of the body or an organ.
Antiquarian: Relating to the study or collection of antiques or things of the past; a person who studies or collects antiquities.
Antiquate: To make something obsolete or outdated; to declare something as no longer useful or relevant.
Antique: An object that is old, typically over 100 years, and often valued for its historical significance.
Antiquity: The ancient past, especially the period before the Middle Ages; also refers to the remains of ancient civilizations.
Other Uses
Ante meridiem (a.m.) – “Before midday.” Used to denote times before noon in the 12-hour clock system.
Anterograde amnesia – a type of memory loss that affects a person’s ability to form new memories after the onset of the condition.
Links
List of Greek and Latin roots in English – Wikipedia
Other Roots Used in These Words
| Root | Meaning |
| bell- | war |
| grad- | walk, step, go |
| mort- | death |
| mund- | world |
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