'antesunrise' originates from the Latin prefix 'ante' meaning 'before' combined with the English word 'sunrise' (from 'sun' + Old English 'rīsan' meaning 'to rise').

'antesunrise' is a Modern English compound formed by combining Latin-derived 'ante' and the English word 'sunrise'; it does not have a long separate medieval form but follows the pattern of English compounds created in the Early Modern to Modern English period.

Initially it meant 'before the rising of the sun' and this core meaning has remained stable as 'before sunrise' in modern usage.