Initial stake (4)
I believe the answer is:
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">initial stake</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for ante that I've seen before include "Advance stake" , "Money for poker" , "Hoofed mammal" , "Each player's initial contribution to the pot" , "Preceding birth" .)