Lewis & Short

antĕ-pōno, pŏsui, pŏsĭtum, 3, v. a., to set or place before.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: equitum locos sedilibus plebis, Tac. A. 15, 32: propugnacula anteposita, id. ib. 12, 56.
    2. B. Esp., to set (food) before one (com., pono, as Hor. S. 1, 3, 92; Juv. 1, 141 al.): prandium pransoribus, Plaut. Men. 2, 2, 2; so id. Curc. 1, 1, 73; id. Rud. 2, 6, 25.
  2. II. Trop., to prefer, give the preference to: longe Academiae illi hoc gymnasium anteponam, Cic. de Or. 1, 21 fin.: suo generi meum, id. Sull. 8, 25: amicitiam omnibus rebus humanis, id. Am. 5, 17; Nep. Eum. 1, 3; Tac. A. 12, 69.
    Note: With tmesis: pono ante: mala bo nis ponit ante, Cic. Off. 3, 17, 71.