antemortem

or an·te-mor·tem, an·te mor·tem

[ an-tee-mawr-tuhm ]

/ ˌæn tiˈmɔr təm /

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adjective, adverb

before death: She made an antemortem confession.In commercial sheep flocks, diagnosis of endometritis is seldom made antemortem, and treatment is generally impractical.

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Origin of antemortem

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1880–85

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use antemortem in a sentence

Joseph LaRocca says some companies are upping the ante in terms of fending off return fraudsters.
The Insane $11 Billion Scam at Retailers’ Return Desks|M.L. Nestel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The second upped the ante, taking aim at “cray,” “jelly,” “literally,” “teehee,” and “totes.”
Feminist, Bae, Turnt: Time’s ‘Worst Words’ List Is Sexist and Racist|Samantha Allen|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His post-mortem that there is no red or blue America was tired and flat-out wrong.
Earth to DNC: Dyspeptic Dad Still Votes, Too|Lloyd Green|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Phasellus tristique, eros sit amet maximus tincidunt, enim massa congue nibh, non rutrum lorem ante non lectus.
Test Article|CNN|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Hoenig, apparently wanting to continue being booked on Fox News, felt the need to up the anti-Muslim ante.
The Fox News Apology Tour|Dean Obeidallah|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cert ante hoc tempus vix vnquam Gallis vacatum fuit conuertdis incolarum ad Christum animis.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Nam Sacerdos ille, qui huc ante nos aduenerat, nostro statim adutu in Galliam sua ipse sponte & pro veteri desiderio remigrauit.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
So Virgil, "Solemnes tum forte dapes et tristia dona ante urbem in luco," &c.
Notes and Queries, Number 196, July 30, 1853|Various
Her style was a great contrast to the earlier hero-worshiping and glorification of ante-bellum days in Virginia.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
It is difficult to get accustomed to the spending of our lives in ante-chambers, courtyards, or on staircases.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre|Jean de La Bruyre

British Dictionary definitions for antemortem

ante-mortem

adjective, adverb

(esp in legal or medical contexts) before death

Word Origin for ante-mortem

Latin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for antemortem

antemortem

[ ăn′tē-môr′təm ]

adj.

Before death.