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. antecedence n. antecedently adv.
[ ME f. F antecedent or L antecedere (as ANTE-, cedere go) ]