Definitions for antecedentˌæn təˈsid nt

an•te•ced•entˌæn təˈsid nt(adj.)

preceding; prior:
an antecedent event.
(n.)a preceding circumstance, event, object, phenomenon, etc.; precursor.
antecedents, ancestors. the history, events, conditions, etc., of one's earlier life.
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.
Category: Grammar
Math. the first term of a ratio; the first or third term of a proportion. the first of two vectors in a dyad.
Category: Math
the conditional element in a proposition introduced by “if.”
Category: Philosphy
Ref: Compare consequent (def. 5). 5

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

an`te•ced′ent•ly(adv.)

ancestor, ascendant, ascendent, antecedent, root(noun)
someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
antecedent(noun)
a preceding occurrence or cause or event
antecedent, forerunner(noun)
anything that precedes something similar in time
"phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience"
antecedent(adj)
the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun
antecedent(adj)
preceding in time or order

antecedent(Noun)
Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.
antecedent(Noun)
An ancestor.
antecedent(Noun)
A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun.

Origin: From antecedent (French antécédent), from antecedens, from antecedere.

Antecedent(adj)
going before in time; prior; anterior; preceding; as, an event antecedent to the Deluge; an antecedent cause
Antecedent(adj)
presumptive; as, an antecedent improbability
Antecedent(noun)
that which goes before in time; that which precedes
Antecedent(noun)
one who precedes or goes in front
Antecedent(noun)
the earlier events of one's life; previous principles, conduct, course, history
Antecedent(noun)
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
Antecedent(noun)
the first or conditional part of a hypothetical proposition; as, If the earth is fixed, the sun must move
Antecedent(noun)
the first of the two propositions which constitute an enthymeme or contracted syllogism; as, Every man is mortal; therefore the king must die
Antecedent(noun)
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

Citation

"antecedent." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2013. Web. 25 May 2013. <http://www.definitions.net/definition/antecedent>.