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What is the difference between precedent and antecedent?

precedent | antecedent |

Antecedent is a synonym of precedent.



In lang=en terms the difference between precedent and antecedent

is that precedent is a decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case while antecedent is the first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a in the ratio a:b, the other being the consequent.

As nouns the difference between precedent and antecedent

is that precedent is an act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future while antecedent is in “The policeman asked the boy what he was doing.”, the phrase “the boy” is the antecedent of the pronoun “he”.

As adjectives the difference between precedent and antecedent

is that precedent is happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding while antecedent is earlier, either in time or order.

As a verb precedent

is to provide precedents for.

precedent

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Noun

(en noun)
  • An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
  • * Hooker
  • Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.
  • (legal) A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
  • (obsolete, with definite article) The aforementioned (thing).
  • *, New York 2001, p.74:
  • A third argument may be derived from the precedent .
  • The previous version.
  • (obsolete) A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.
  • (Shakespeare)

    Derived terms

    * binding precedent * declaratory precedent * original precedent * persuasive precedent * precedented * precedential * precedent-setting * precedent sub silentio * unprecedented

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.
  • *, III.2.1.i:
  • In the precedent section mention was made, amongst other pleasant objects, of this comeliness and beauty which proceeds from women […].

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (legal) To provide precedents for.
  • (legal) To be a precedent for.
  • See also

    * stare decisis ----

    antecedent

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Earlier, either in time or order.
  • an event antecedent to the Biblical Flood
    an antecedent cause
  • presumptive
  • an antecedent improbability

    Noun

    {{examples-right, sense=linguistics: expression referred to by pronoun, examples= * In “The policeman asked the boy what he was doing.”, the phrase “the boy” is the antecedent of the pronoun “he”. * In the sentence “I saw my girlfriend yesterday wearing her old jacket which is odd because she almost never wears it.”, the phrase “my girlfriend” is the antecedent of “her” and “old jacket” is the antecedent of “it”.}} (en noun)
  • Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.
  • An ancestor.
  • (grammar) A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun.
  • * Fowler
  • [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
  • (logic) The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition.
  • (rfex)
  • (math) The first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a'' in the ratio ''a:b , the other being the consequent.
  • Synonyms

    * (something which precedes) precedent, precursor * (an ancestor) ascendant, ascendent, forebear, forefather, forerunner, predecessor, progenitor

    Antonyms

    * (in logic) consequent, (for sequents) succedent * (in linguistics) anaphor

    Holonyms

    * conditional * See

    See also

    * juxtaposition ----