[pre.ce.dent] adj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L praecedent-, praecedens, prp. of praecedere] (15c): prior in time, order, arrangement, or significance
[2]prec.e.dent n (15c) 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 ~" b: the convention established by such a precedent or by long practice
3: a person or thing that serves as a model