[ ˌantɪ'si:d(ə)nt ]
■ noun
1》 a thing that existed before or logically precedes another.
2》 ( ~s ) a person's ancestors and social background.
3》 Grammar an earlier word, phrase, or clause to which a following pronoun refers back.
4》 Logic the statement contained in the ‘if’ clause of a conditional proposition.
■ adjective preceding in time or order.
Derivatives
antecedence noun
~ly adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr. or from L. ~- , antecedere , from ante 'before' + cedere 'go'.