PRECEDENT

I. 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. noun Date: 15th century an earlier occurrence of something similar, 2. 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 , the convention established by such a ~ or by long practice, a person or thing that serves as a model