I. pre·ce·dent pri-ˈsē-d ə nt, ˈpre-sə-dənt adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praecedent-, praecedens, present participle of praecedere
Date: 15th century
: prior in time, order, arrangement, or significance
II. prec·e·dent ˈpre-sə-dənt noun
Date: 15th century
1. : an earlier occurrence of something similar
2.
a. : something done or said that may serve as an example or rule to authorize or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind
a verdict that had no precedent
b. : the convention established by such a precedent or by long practice
3. : a person or thing that serves as a model