status quo ante Hear it!

status quo ante definition - legal

n

Latin

The situation as it existed before. As things were before whatever happened or is being discussed took place. For example, status quo ante bellum is the situation as it existed before the war.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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