Definition of ANTECEDENT

antecedent

Meanings

Plural: antecedents

Noun

  • someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
  • a preceding occurrence or cause or event
  • anything that precedes something similar in time
    • "phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience"
  • the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun
  • Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.
  • An ancestor.
  • A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun or other pro-form.
  • The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p→q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent.
  • The first of two subsets of a sequent, consisting of all the sequent's formulae which are valuated as true.
  • The first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a in the ratio a:b, the other being the consequent.
  • Previous principles, conduct, history, etc.

Adjective

  • preceding in time or order

Adj

  • Earlier, either in time or in order.
  • Presumptive.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English antecedent, borrowed from Old French antecedent, from Latin antecēdēns (“going before”), from antecēdō (“to precede; excel; surpass”).

Scrabble Score: 13

antecedent is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
antecedent is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
antecedent is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

antecedent is a valid Words With Friends word