Definitions of antecedent [ˌæn təˈsid nt]

Translate antecedent to

Definition of 'antecedent'

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

1. (adj.) antecedent
preceding; prior:
an antecedent event.

2. (n.) antecedent
a preceding circumstance, event, object, phenomenon, etc.; precursor.

3.  antecedent
antecedents,

4.  antecedent
ancestors.

5.  antecedent
the history, events, conditions, etc., of one's earlier life.

6.  antecedent
a word, phrase, or clause, usu. a substantive, that is replaced, usu. later, by a pronoun or other substitute, as Jane and glove in
Jane lost a glove and she can't find it.

7.  antecedent
Math.

8.  antecedent
the first term of a ratio; the first or third term of a proportion.

9.  antecedent
the first of two vectors in a dyad.

10.  antecedent
the conditional element in a proposition introduced by “if.”

Etymology: (1350–1400; ME (< MF) < L antecēdent-, s. of antecēdēns, prp. of antecēdere to antecede)

Definition of 'antecedent'

Princeton's WordNet

1. (noun) ancestor, ascendant, ascendent, antecedent, root
someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

2. (noun) antecedent
a preceding occurrence or cause or event

3. (noun) antecedent, forerunner
anything that precedes something similar in time
"phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience"

4. (adj) antecedent
the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun

5. (adj) antecedent
preceding in time or order

Definition of 'antecedent'

Webster Dictionary

1. (adj) antecedent
going before in time; prior; anterior; preceding; as, an event antecedent to the Deluge; an antecedent cause

2. (adj) antecedent
presumptive; as, an antecedent improbability

3. (noun) antecedent
that which goes before in time; that which precedes

4. (noun) antecedent
one who precedes or goes in front

5. (noun) antecedent
the earlier events of one's life; previous principles, conduct, course, history

6. (noun) antecedent
the noun to which a relative refers; as, in the sentence "Solomon was the prince who built the temple," prince is the antecedent of who

7. (noun) antecedent
the first or conditional part of a hypothetical proposition; as, If the earth is fixed, the sun must move

8. (noun) antecedent
the first of the two propositions which constitute an enthymeme or contracted syllogism; as, Every man is mortal; therefore the king must die

9. (noun) antecedent
the first of the two terms of a ratio; the first or third of the four terms of a proportion. In the ratio a:b, a is the antecedent, and b the consequent

'antecedent' - Nearby Entries
antecede antecedence antecedency antecedent antecedently antechamber antecubital

Citation: Add this definition to your bibliography

MLA Chicago APA

"antecedent." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2012. 14 February. 2012. http://www.definitions.net/definition/antecedent

Alternative search options for 'antecedent'

Search for Synonyms for 'antecedent'

Quotes containing the term 'antecedent'

Search for Phrases containing the term 'antecedent'

Search for Abbreviations containing the term 'antecedent'

Search for 'antecedent' on

What rhymes with 'antecedent'?

NEW:Search for Song lyrics containing the word 'antecedent'