terminus ante quem

noun

The date before which an event in the past must have occurred: the date before which a document must have been written, the date before which an archaeological artifact must have been deposited, and so on.

Opposite
terminus post quemterminus a quo
OriginLatin terminus →
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Meanings

noun
  1. The date before which an event in the past must have occurred: the date before which a document must have been written, the date before which an archaeological artifact must have been deposited, and so on.

    Antonyms: terminus post quem, terminus a quo

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe date before which an event in the past must have occurred: the date before which a document must have been written, the date before which an archaeological artifact must have been deposited, and so on.

Opposite
terminus post quemterminus a quo

Origin

  1. Latinterminus“boundary, limit”
  2. Englishterminus ante quem

From the Latin terminus (“boundary, limit”) and ante (“before”) and quem (“which”), the accusative of quī (“what”). Literally meaning "the limit before which".

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

terminus ante quem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/terminus%20ante%20quem

MLA

“terminus ante quem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/terminus%20ante%20quem. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “terminus ante quem,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/terminus%20ante%20quem.

Source: terminus ante quem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.