Antenatus

Lat. From ante and netus. Born before. A person born before another person or before a particular event. The term is particularly applied to one born in a country before a revolution, change of government or dynasty, or other political event, such that the question of his rights, status, or allegiance will depend upon the date of his birth with reference to such event. In England, the term commenly denotes one born before the act of union with Scotland; in America, one born before the declaration of independence. Its opposite is postnatius, one born after the event.

Lat. [from ante, before, and natu Sf bom.] Bom before; that is, before another person.

In this sense, this term is of frequent occurrence in Bracton, being used with its correlative postnatus, (after bora,) to distinguish sons orbrothers bom at different periods. Si /rater antenatus [donatianemfecerit^fratri suo postnato; if an elder brother make a gift to his after bora brother. Bract, fol. 33, lib. 2, c. 15. See Id. cc. 16, 30. Bom before a particular period, or event.

In this sense, the term (especially the plural antenatiy) has acquired much celebrity m modem law, being employed to denote the subjects of Scotland bom before the union of the crowns; and Americans and British subjects bom in the United States before the declaration of independence. 7 Co. 1, Calvin's case. 2 Rentes Com. 40, 56, 58. 4 Cranch R. 321. 8 Peters' R. 99.