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