I. prece·dent (ˈ)prē|sēd ə nt, prə̇ˈs-, or like precedent II adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin praecedent-, praecedens, present participle of praecedere to precede — more at precede
1. : going before in time : anterior , preceding , antecedent
a series of precedent causes going back to infinity — C.H.Whiteley
2. : going before in order or arrangement
a precedent theorem
II. prec·e·dent ˈpresədənt also -əd ə nt or -estənt sometimes -rēs- or -rez(ə)d- or -əˌdent noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from precedent, adjective
1.
a. : something that precedes ; especially : an earlier occurrence of a similar character
precedents would seem to show that the reduction of armaments is conducive to war — F.A.Voigt
b. : a rough draft of a writing : original
c. : token , sign
2.
a.
(1) : 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 : an authoritative example
took the exploits of the American colonists as a precedent for subversive activity
(2) : the norm for subsequent practice set by such a precedent
the founder also set the precedent of only paying himself a salary — Current Biography
(3) : prevailing custom established by long practice : convention
followed historical precedent in organizing the town
broke precedent when they elected a woman
b. : a judicial decision, a form of proceeding, or course of action that serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases : an authority to be followed in courts of justice — compare dictum
3.
a. : a person or thing serving as a model
b. obsolete : specimen , instance
III. prec·e·dent -ent also -ənt or - ə nt transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to furnish with or support or justify by a precedent