ˈpredəˌsesə(r) also ˈprēd- or -edēˌ- or -ediˌ- or -seˌsȯ(ə)r or -ȯ(ə) or ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷(ˌ) ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English predecessour, from Middle French predecesseur, from Late Latin praedecessor, from Latin prae- pre- + decessor retiring governor, from decessus (past participle of decedere to depart, retire from office) + -or — more at decease
1.
a. : one that precedes ; especially : a person who has previously occupied a position or office to which another has succeeded
dwell with satisfaction upon the poet's difference from his predecessors — T.S.Eliot
was my predecessor in title to the house
b. : something that has been followed or displaced by another
sun-dried bricks, the predecessors of burnt brick — Fiske Kimball
the edifice follows the general style and proportions of its predecessor — American Guide Series: Vermont
2. archaic : ancestor