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Added 7 October 2026

ante

/ˈænti/ preposition

Latin root: ante Wiktionary

preposition Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about ante at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Synonym of before, earlier in time, particularly used in historical dating.
The wall was built at some time a. 1400.

noun

A price or cost, as in up the ante.
In poker and other games, the contribution made by all players to the pot, often before dealing all the cards.

verb

To pay the ante in poker. Often used as ante up.
To make an investment in money, effort, or time before knowing one's chances.

Origin

Learned borrowing from Latin ante (“before”). Doublet of and.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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