'antelegal' originates from Latin, specifically the elements 'ante' and 'legalis', where 'ante' meant 'before' and 'legalis' meant 'of or relating to law.'

'antelegal' was formed in English by combining the Latin prefix 'ante-' with 'legal' (from Latin 'legalis'); the compound follows patterns of neo-Latin and later English formation of prefixed adjectives.

Initially, the components meant 'before' + 'of law'; over time the compound has come to be used (rarely) in English to describe states, customs, or conditions existing prior to formal law or outside its reach.