Definition: The word "antepenults" comes from Greek, meaning "first year," which means it's the third part of the first year in a cycle or progression. Definition: The "antepenults" refers to the second year of an individual's life, specifically a person who is 18 years old, and as such, this cycle usually runs from their birth until they turn 19. Antepenults are typically associated with the young age of someone born in the 1600s or earlier.