Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • preposition Regarding; concerning.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a line with; side by side with; on a level with.
  • In front of; fronting; before; opposite; over against.
  • Against; toward.
  • In respect of or regard to; as to; concerning; about: sometimes with as.
  • On the other side; in an opposite place or situation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • preposition Concerning, with regard to, about, in respect to, as to, insofar as, inasmuch as
  • preposition obsolete In the opinion or judgment of
  • preposition obsolete Against, in front of, fronting; before; opposite; over against, on the other side
  • preposition obsolete In a line with; side by side with; on a level with.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old English onefn, near : on, on; see on + efn, even.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English anent ("insofar as, inasmuch as, in comparison with, with respect to, as regards, concerning, in the opinion or judgment of; next to, close to, up to, near, adjoining, across from, over against, facing"), anen, from Old English on emn, on efen ("level with, beside", literally "on even"); compare German neben.

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Examples

  • Though I cannot admire his style, I admire the man who wrote to me, ‘Re Tennyson—your remarks anent his In Memoriam make me sick’: for though re is not a preposition of the first water, and ‘anent’ has enjoyed its day, the finish crowned the work.

    V. Interlude: On Jargon 1916

  • She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Frank asked Nur al-Din anent the maker of the kerchief, he answered, saying, “In very sooth this kerchief is the handiwork of my mother, who made it for me with her own hand.”

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • It meant twice the usual number of inside telephone calls anent rooms too hot, rooms too cold, radiators hammering, radiators hissing, windows that refused to open, windows that refused to shut, packages undelivered, hot water not forthcoming.

    Cheerful—By Request Edna Ferber 1926

  • Al. Fairbrother, editor of Everything, campions the word anent, and says it is a smooth and juicy word.

    Idle Comments 1905

  • Who persuaded the Tsar to break his word anent Port Arthur?

    The Stowaway Girl Louis Tracy 1895

  • ` ` Friend Ranald, '' answered Dalgetty, ` ` I have read of these boons in silly story-books, whereby simple knights were drawn into engagements to their great prejudice; Therefore, Ranald, the more prudent knights of this day never promise anything until they know that they may keep their word anent the premises, without any displeasure or incommodement to themselves.

    A Legend of Montrose 1871

  • Heggins, for a couple of bottles of Deacon Jaffrey's best brown stout, asking if he could pawn his word anent its being genuine, as it was for a gentleman in delicate health.

    The Life of Mansie Wauch Tailor in Dalkeith, written by himself David Macbeth Moir 1824

  • Heggins, for a couple of bottles of Deacon Jaffrey's best brown stout, asking if he could pawn his word anent its being genuine, as it was for a gentleman in delicate health.

    The Life of Mansie Wauch tailor in Dalkeith David Macbeth Moir 1824

  • The Lexicographic Irregulars—from Olbom On Language’s Board of Octogenarian Mentors to the English teachers compelled to begin with the word anent—are my sources of inspiration and information.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • The Lexicographic Irregulars—from Olbom On Language’s Board of Octogenarian Mentors to the English teachers compelled to begin with the word anent—are my sources of inspiration and information.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

Comments

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  • a preposition that means in regard to or concerning

    August 1, 2007

  • My seventh grade English teacher told us that the English language held precisely forty-five prepositions, and she made us learn them all. I'm sure "anent" wasn't on her list — encountering a new preposition feels only slightly lower on the scale of cognitive dissonance than encountering a new primary color.

    October 12, 2008

  • What ruzuzu said on your profile, electriccounterpoint: great comment.

    May 3, 2011

  • Can anybody help me tag all English prepositions?

    May 3, 2011

  • What tag are you going to use? English preposition?

    May 3, 2011

  • I used preposition... then I think one can go and look it up to make sure it is for reals.

    May 3, 2011

  • I'll play--I love tagging projects.

    'English preposition' might be gilding the lily, since Wordnik is monolingual.

    update: cheatsheet. I'm doing the As & Bs right now.

    May 3, 2011

  • Me too!

    May 3, 2011

  • I tried to start at the Ws, sorry if I missed any.

    I used this list

    May 3, 2011

  • ...

    an host of overjoyed

    noncoms(first knocking on the head

    him)do through icy waters roll

    that helplessness which others stroke

    with brushes recently employed

    anent this muddy toilet bowl,

    while kindred intellects evoke

    allegiance per blunt instruments

    ...

    -e.e. cummings

    May 3, 2011

  • While Tolkein could wildly invent
    Not everything had deep intent.
    When you've said he can talk
    And awkwardly walk
    You've said all you need anent an ent.

    June 29, 2014

  • Oddly, the Word of the Day notification for anent calls the word an adverb. The regular Wordnik entry calls it a preposition. It sure looks like a preposition to me.

    June 29, 2014