An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/ant-

by Friedrich Kluge

ant-, prefix, preserved in ModHG. only in Ant-litz and Ant-wort (see also Amt, anheischig, and Handwerk). It is found in the early periods in many noun compounds, to which ModHG. ent-; is the corresponding prefix of verbal compounds. Comp. MidHG. and OHG. ant-, Goth. anda-, AS. and-, ond- (comp. E. answer under Antwort); also the Goth. prep, and, ‘on, upon, in, along.’ The orig. meaning of the prefix is ‘counter,’ which makes it cognate with Gr. ἀντί ‘against,’ Lat. ante, ‘before,’ Sans. ánti, ‘opposite.’