ante

Ante is a term with Latin origins, derived from ante meaning before. In English, it functions as both a noun and a prefix. As a noun, ante refers to a stake that all players must contribute to the pot before a hand begins, in order to seed the pot and stimulate action. The size of an ante can be fixed or variable, and it is distinct from blinds, which are posts made by specific players.

As a prefix, ante- denotes precedence or prior time, and it is used to form many common terms such as ante bellum (before the war), ante meridiem (before noon), and antepartum (before birth). The prefix appears across disciplines, including medicine, law, history, and archaeology, to indicate something that precedes another event or period.

In gaming usage, the ante is most often associated with card games but can appear in other contexts as well, always signaling an initial, pre-event stake or consideration. The concept contrasts with post- and pre- in its emphasis on an event that precedes the main action.

Etymologically, ante has become part of English through direct borrowing from Latin, and its continued use across both literal and figurative senses reflects its function as a marker of precedence or prior obligation. The term remains common in discussions of poker and other gambling formats, as well as in the broader formation of English words using the ante- prefix.