'ante-communion' originates from Latin, specifically the prefix 'ante-' and the word 'communio', where 'ante-' meant 'before' and 'communio' meant 'sharing' or 'fellowship'.

'ante-communion' was formed in English from the combining of Latin-derived elements; 'communion' entered English via Old French 'communion' from Latin 'communio', and the Latin prefix 'ante-' ('before') was attached to create a compound referring to something occurring before the communion.

Initially, the components literally meant 'before sharing' (i.e. before the act of shared communion), but over time the compound came to denote specifically a service or portion of a liturgical service that precedes the administration of Holy Communion.