The antessive case (abbreviated ANTE)[1] is used for marking the spatial relation of preceding or being before. The case is found in some Dravidian languages. For example, in Tamil, the antessive case has three primary meanings.[2]
Eṅkaḷ
1PL.GEN
vīṭṭiṟku
home
muṉṉāl
ANTE
oru
INDEF
kōyil
temple
irukkiṟatu
EXIST
There is a temple in front of our home
Tir-uṭaṉ
thief-SOC
nītipati-kku
judge-DAT
muṉṉāl
ANTE
koṇṭu
INS
varappa-ṭṭ-aṉ
come-PST-3SG.MASC
The thief was brought before the judge
Avaṉ
3SG
eḻutuvatil
write-DEF-LOC
ellā:ru-kkum
everyone-DAT
muṉṉa:L
ANTE
iruk-kiṟ-āṉ
EXIST-PRES-3SG.MASC
He is in front of all in writing