I. ˌan-tə-ˈsē-d ə nt noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin antecedent-, antecedens, from Latin, what precedes, from neuter of antecedent-, antecedens, present participle of antecedere to go before, from ante- + cedere to go
Date: 14th century
1. : a substantive word, phrase, or clause whose denotation is referred to by a pronoun (as John in “Mary saw John and called to him”) ; broadly : a word or phrase replaced by a substitute
2. : the conditional element in a proposition (as if A in “if A, then B”)
3. : the first term of a mathematical ratio
4.
a. : a preceding event, condition, or cause
b. plural : the significant events, conditions, and traits of one's earlier life
5.
a. : predecessor ; especially : a model or stimulus for later developments
b. plural : ancestors, parents
II. adjective
Date: 14th century
: prior
Synonyms: see preceding
• an·te·ced·ent·ly adverb