'antelucan' originates from Latin, specifically the phrase 'ante lucem', where 'ante' meant 'before' and 'luc-' (from 'lux, lucis') meant 'light' or 'dawn'.

'ante lucem' (Latin phrase) influenced Late Latin or Medieval Latin formations such as 'antelucanus', which later gave rise to the English adjective 'antelucan'.

Initially it meant 'before the light' or 'before dawn', and over time it has retained this basic meaning as 'occurring before dawn'.