anti

 

In Sanskrit, anti (अन्ति) is an indeclinable 

adverb/preposition meaning “near, before, in 

front of, in the presence of.”

Core Sanskrit Meaning

• Indeclinable (ind.) meaning “near, before, opposite, in the presence of” 
• according to classical Sanskrit dictionaries

  2

  .
• Used with the genitive case or as part of compounds to mean “near 
• to / toward / in the vicinity of.”

  1
• 

  

  2 Sources

Examples from Sanskrit texts

• Ṛgveda uses anti in the sense “before, in the presence of” 
• (e.g., na hī nu vo maruto antyasme)

  1

  .
• Bhāgavata Purāṇa uses it as a preposition meaning “toward / near”
• (e.g., upeyatur anti mātroḥ)

  1

  .
• Compound examples:
  • bhasma‑anti — “near the ashes”

    1
  • anti matroh — “toward their mothers”

    1
• 

  

  2 Sources

Additional Sanskrit senses

• anti (f.) — “elder sister” in theatrical language

  1

  .
• antī (f.) — “oven, fireplace” (a related but distinct form)

  1

  .
• 

  1 Source

What anti does not mean in Sanskrit

• It does not mean “against / opposite” in the English sense of the prefix 
• anti- (e.g., antibiotic). That meaning comes from Greek/Latin, not Sanskrit. 
• The English-prefix definition shown in one result is not a Sanskrit meaning

  1

  .
• 

  1 Source

Summary

anti (अन्ति) in Sanskrit primarily means:

• near, before, opposite, in the presence of (indeclinable adverb/preposition)
• Secondary meanings: elder sister (f.), oven (antī)

If you want, I can also explain how anti differs from related forms like 

antika, anta, or how it appears in Vedic vs. Classical Sanskrit.