antebellum adjective Belonging to the period before a war, especially the American Civil War. The tour guide described life on an antebellum plantation before the Civil War began. + antecedent noun A thing, event, or condition that came before and often influenced something that followed. Historians traced the antecedents of the revolution back several decades. + antechamber noun A small room that leads into a larger, more important room. Visitors waited in the antechamber before being announced to the king. + antedate verb To exist or happen at an earlier date than something else, or to assign an earlier date to a document. The ancient ruins antedate the earliest written records of the region by centuries. + antediluvian adjective Extremely old-fashioned or outdated, or literally belonging to the time before the biblical flood. My grandfather still refuses to replace his antediluvian rotary telephone. + antenatal adjective Relating to the period before birth; concerning the care and monitoring of a pregnant woman and her fetus. She attended regular antenatal checkups throughout her pregnancy to monitor the baby's growth. + anteroom noun A small room that serves as an entrance to a larger, more important room. The lawyers waited in the anteroom until the judge was ready to see them. + anterior adjective Situated at or toward the front of something, or occurring earlier in time or sequence. The anterior part of the skull protects the front of the brain. + antepenultimate adjective Third from the last in a series; the one before the second-to-last item. Stress in this word falls on the antepenultimate syllable, not the final one. + ante noun A sum of money a poker player must put into the pot before receiving cards. Each player placed a small ante into the pot before the dealer dealt the cards. + antelope noun A slender, fast-running, hoofed mammal with horns, found mainly in Africa and Asia. A herd of antelope grazed peacefully on the open savanna at dawn. + antenna noun A metal rod or wire device used to send or receive radio, television, or other electromagnetic signals. He climbed onto the roof to adjust the television antenna during the storm. + anteater noun A mammal with a long snout and sticky tongue that feeds mainly on ants and termites. The anteater used its long tongue to pull insects out of the mound. + vigilante noun A person who takes it upon themselves to enforce the law or punish wrongdoers without legal authority. The masked vigilante in the comic book fights crime outside the official police force. + guarantee noun A firm promise that something will happen or that a product will meet a certain standard. The manufacturer offers a five-year guarantee on all replacement parts for the washing machine. + canteen noun A cafeteria, especially in a school, factory, or military base, where meals are served. Workers gathered in the canteen for a quick lunch before returning to the factory floor. + mantel noun The shelf above a fireplace, often used to display photographs or ornaments. They arranged framed photographs along the mantel above the crackling fireplace. + lantern noun A portable case, often with glass sides, that holds and protects a light source such as a candle or bulb. We hung a lantern on the porch to guide guests up the dark path. + planted adjective Placed deliberately and secretly, especially evidence or a person, to deceive or mislead others. The lawyer argued that the drugs found in the car had been planted. + wanted adjective Sought after, desired, or, especially, sought by the police in connection with a crime. The escaped prisoner remained one of the country's most wanted fugitives for years. + granted conjunction Used to acknowledge a point as true before making a contrasting or qualifying statement. Granted, the plan has risks, but the potential benefits are worth considering. + chanted verb Said or sung repeatedly in a rhythmic tone, often as part of a ritual, protest, or performance. The crowd chanted the team's name as the final seconds ticked away. + ranted verb Spoke or wrote in a loud, angry, and often lengthy way about something that upset you. He ranted about the delayed flight for a full ten minutes at the gate. + slanted adjective Sloping at an angle rather than level or upright. Rain streaked across the slanted roof of the old barn. + warranted adjective Justified or appropriate given the circumstances; deserved. The teacher felt the student's suspension was warranted after repeated warnings. + transplanted adjective Moved from its original place and reestablished elsewhere, as an organ, plant, or person. The transplanted kidney began functioning normally within a week of the surgery. + implanted adjective Fixed or inserted firmly into a surface, tissue, or the mind, typically through deliberate placement. The implanted pacemaker keeps the patient's heartbeat steady. + canted adjective Tilted or sloped at an angle rather than level or upright. The old barn had a visibly canted roof that leaned to one side. + enchanted adjective Filled with delight and wonder, or placed under a magic spell. The children wandered through the enchanted forest of the fairy tale. + disenchanted adjective No longer satisfied with or trusting of someone or something once admired or believed in. Many voters grew disenchanted with the party after years of broken promises. +