PRECEDING

[pre.ced.ing] adj (15c): that immediately precedes in time or place "the ~ day" "~ paragraphs" syn preceding, antecedent, foregoing, previous, prior, former, anterior mean being before. preceding usu. implies being immediately before in time or in place "the preceding sentence". antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation "conditions antecedent to the revolution". foregoing applies chiefly to statements "the foregoing remarks". previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance "a child from a previous marriage" "a prior obligation". former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter "the former name of the company". anterior applies to position before or ahead of usu. in space, sometimes in time or order "the anterior lobe of the brain".