1. antecedent(n = noun.person) ancestor, ascendant, ascendent, root - someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent);
is a kind of relation, relative
has particulars: ancestress, forbear, forebear, father, forefather, sire, foremother, primogenitor, progenitor
Derived form adjective antecedent1
2. antecedent(n = noun.event) - a preceding occurrence or cause or event;
is a kind of cause
Derived forms verb antecede1, adjective antecedent1
3. antecedent(n = noun.linkdef) forerunner - anything that precedes something similar in time; "phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience"
is a kind of temporal relation
Derived form adjective antecedent1
4. antecedent(n = noun.communication) - the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun;
is a kind of referent
Derived form adjective antecedent1
antecedent(a = adj.all) - preceding in time or order;
Antonym: subsequent
Derived forms noun antecedence1, noun antecedency1, noun antecedent4, noun antecedent2, noun antecedent1, noun antecedent3
1. Going before in time; prior; anterior; preceding; as, an event antecedent to the Deluge; an antecedent cause. [1913 Webster]
2. Presumptive; as, an antecedent improbability. [1913 Webster]
1. That which goes before in time; that which precedes. South. [1913 Webster]
"The Homeric mythology, as well as the Homeric language, has surely its antecedents." [1913 Webster]
2. One who precedes or goes in front. [1913 Webster]
"My antecedent, or my gentleman usher." [1913 Webster]
3. The earlier events of one's life; previous principles, conduct, course, history. J. H. Newman. [1913 Webster]
"If the troops . . . prove worthy of their antecedents, the victory is surely ours." [1913 Webster]
4. The noun to which a relative refers; as, in the sentence “Solomon was the prince who built the temple,” prince is the antecedent of who. [1913 Webster]
5. The first or conditional part of a hypothetical proposition; as, If the earth is fixed, the sun must move. [1913 Webster]
6. The first of the two terms of a ratio; the first or third of the four terms of a proportion. In the ratio
antecedent, n. & adj.
--n.
1 a preceding thing or circumstance.
2 Gram. a word, phrase, clause, or sentence, to which another word (esp. a relative pronoun, usu. following) refers.
3 (in pl.) past history, esp. of a person.
4 Logic the statement contained in the 'if' clause of a conditional proposition.
--adj.
1 (often foll. by to) previous.
2 presumptive, a priori.
Derivative:
antecedence n. antecedently adv.
Etymology:
ME f. F antecedent or L antecedere (as ANTE-, cedere go)
N precedence, coming before, the lead, le pas, superiority, importance, antecedence, antecedency, anteriority, precursor, priority, precession, anteposition, epacme, preference, preceding, precedent, antecedent, anterior, prior, before, former, foregoing, beforementioned, abovementioned, aforementioned, aforesaid, said, precursory, precursive, prevenient, preliminary, prefatory, introductory, prelusive, prelusory, proemial, preparatory, before, in advance, seniores priores, prior tempore prior jure.
N precursor, antecedent, precedent, predecessor, forerunner, vancourier, avant-coureur, pioneer, prodrome, prodromos, prodromus, outrider, leader, bellwether, herald, harbinger, foreboding, dawn, avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare, forelooper, foreloper, stalking-horse, voorlooper, voortrekker, prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos, protasis, proemium, prolusion, proem, prolepsis, prolegomena, prefix, introduction, heading, frontispiece, groundwork, preparation, overture, exordium, symphony, premises, prefigurement, omen, precursory, prelusive, prelusory, preludious, proemial, introductory, prefatory, prodromous, inaugural, preliminary, precedent, a precedent embalms a principle.
N priority, antecedence, anteriority, precedence, pre-existence, precession, precursor, the past, premises, prior, previous, preceding, precedent, anterior, antecedent, pre- existing, pre-existent, former, foregoing, aforementioned, before- mentioned, abovementioned, aforesaid, said, introductory, before, prior to, earlier, previously, afore, aforehand, beforehand, ere, theretofore, erewhile, ere then, ere now, before then, before now, erewhile, already, yet, beforehand, on the eve of, prior tempore prior jure.