Antecedent

Quick meaning: Antecedent is an adjective meaning Earlier, either in time or in order.

Meaning

Earlier, either in time or in order.

More Meanings

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

an event antecedent to the Biblical Flood

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.

Word Forms

• antecedents

Synonyms for antecedent

Depending on context, synonyms include precedent, precursor, ascendant, ascendent, forerunner, predecessor.

Antonyms for antecedent

Common opposites include consequent, succedent, anaphor, successive, subsequent, descendant.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include prior, preceding, preexistent, prevenient, anticipatory, ante.

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