Ante

Preposition used with Accusative only.
The circumflected accents are used to mark the vowels' length.

Non figurative usage

1. Space: in front of, before

• Hostes ante urbem venerunt.

The enemies came in front of the city.

• Legati ante lucem venerunt.

The envoys came before the daybreak.

Figurative usage

Degree: over, before

• Mucius ante omnes virtute erat.

Mucius exeeded all (was over all / before all) by his virtue.