'prepose' originates from Latin, specifically the Medieval Latin word 'praepōnere', where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'ponere' (from which 'pōnere' derives) meant 'to place'.

'prepose' changed from Medieval Latin 'praepōnere' (literally 'to put before'); related Old French forms such as 'préposer' influenced later usage, and the term entered and was re-established in modern English as 'prepose'.

Initially it meant 'to place before' (in a literal or administrative sense); over time it has retained that central sense and acquired a technical use in linguistics meaning 'to move (a constituent) to an earlier position'.