Obs. rare–1. [ad. late L. antesignārius, for cl.L. antesignānus, a soldier fighting before the standard, f. ante before + sign-um standard: see -ARY.] collect. The picked soldiers who marched before and defended the standard.
1650. Ussher, Annals, VI. (1658), 220. Gave order to the Antesignary, i.e. those that stood next before the standard.
