Antessive case

The antessive case (abbreviated ) 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.

Eṅkaḷ vīṭṭiṟku muṉṉāl oru kōyil irukkiṟatu
 * In front of something or someone

1PL.GEN home ANTE INDEF temple EXIST

There is a temple in front of our home Tir-uṭaṉ nītipati-kku muṉṉāl koṇṭu varappa-ṭṭ-aṉ
 * To present someone or something in front of someone or something

thief-SOC judge-DAT ANTE INS come-PST-3SG.MASC

The thief was brought before the judge Avaṉ eḻutuvatil ellā:ru-kkum muṉṉa:L iruk-kiṟ-āṉ
 * Being 'at front' with reference to position

3SG write-DEF-LOC everyone-DAT ANTE EXIST-PRES-3SG.MASC

He is in front of all in writing