[?ant?'si:d(?)nt]
¦ noun
1. a thing that existed before or logically precedes another.
2. (antecedents) a person's ancestors and social background.
3. Grammar an earlier word, phrase, or clause to which a following pronoun refers back.
4. Logic the statement contained in the 'if' clause of a conditional proposition.
¦ adjective preceding in time or order.
Derivatives
antecedence noun
antecedently adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr. or from L. antecedent-, antecedere, from ante 'before' + cedere 'go'.