First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1antecedent
noun an·te·ced·ent \ˌan-tə-ˈsē-dənt\
grammar : a word or phrase that is represented by another word (such as a pronoun)
: something that came before something else and may have influenced or caused it
antecedents : the people in a family who lived in past times
Full Definition of ANTECEDENT
1
: a substantive word, phrase, or clause whose denotation is referred to by a pronoun (as John in “Mary saw John and called to him”); broadly : a word or phrase replaced by a substitute
2
: the conditional element in a proposition (as if A in “if A, then B”)
3
: the first term of a mathematical ratio
4
a : a preceding event, condition, or cause b plural : the significant events, conditions, and traits of one's earlier life
5
a : predecessor; especially : a model or stimulus for later developments b plural : ancestors, parents
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Origin of ANTECEDENT
Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin antecedent-, antecedens, from Latin, what precedes, from neuter of antecedent-, antecedens, present participle of antecedere to go before, from ante- + cedere to go
Related to ANTECEDENT
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
2antecedent
adjective
: earlier in time
Full Definition of ANTECEDENT
: prior
— an·te·ced·ent·ly adverb
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First Known Use of ANTECEDENT
14th century
Related to ANTECEDENT
Synonym Discussion of ANTECEDENT
preceding, antecedent, foregoing, previous, prior, former, anterior mean being before. preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place <the preceding sentence>. antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation <conditions antecedent to the revolution>. foregoing applies chiefly to statements <the foregoing remarks>. previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance <a child from a previous marriage> <a prior obligation>. former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter <the former name of the company>. anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order <the anterior lobe of the brain>.
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