Meaning

Earlier, either in time or in order..

Definitions by Sense

1. Earlier, either in time or in order.
2. Presumptive.
3. Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.
4. An ancestor.
5. (grammar) A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun or other pro-form.
6. (logic) The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p→q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent.
7. (logic) The first of two subsets of a sequent, consisting of all the sequent's formulae which are valuated as true.
8. (mathematics) The first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a in the ratio a:b, the other being the consequent.

Example Sentences

an antecedent cause

an event antecedent to the Biblical Flood

an antecedent improbability

The Boston agent added that this clerk was a young man of wholly unquestioned veracity and reliability, of known antecedents and long with the company.

[W]hereas it might seem orderly that, as who is appropriated to persons, so that should have been appropriated to things […] the antecedent of that is often personal

One such condition can be formulated in terms of the c-command relation defined in (9) above: the relevant condition is given in (16) below: (16) C-COMMAND CONDITION ON ANAPHORS An anaphor must have an appropriate c-commanding antecedent

Word Forms

• antecedents

Synonyms for antecedent

Antonyms for antecedent

Related Words

When Should You Use Antecedent?

Use antecedent when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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