'antepast' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'antipasto', where 'anti-' (from Latin 'ante-') meant 'before' and 'pasto' meant 'meal' or 'food'.

'antipasto' entered English usage in forms such as 'antepast' and 'antipasto'; over time 'antipasto' (and its Italian plural 'antipasti') remained the common borrowing, while 'antepast' became rare and is now chiefly archaic.

Initially it referred simply to food served before the meal ('before-meal food'), and it has retained that basic sense; today's usage is uncommon and often replaced by 'appetizer' or 'antipasto'.