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Antecedent: meaning, definitions and examples

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antecedent

 

[ˌæntɪˈsiːdənt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

in linguistics

A word, phrase, clause, or sentence to which another word (especially a following relative pronoun) refers.

Synonyms

ancestor, forerunner, precursor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
antecedent

Use when referring to something that logically precedes another or a preceding event or condition.

  • The antecedent events led to the revolution
precursor

Similar to forerunner, but more formal; used to indicate something that paved the way for the development of another thing, especially in scientific and academic contexts.

  • The early experiments were precursors to today's advanced research
forerunner

Best used to describe something or someone that comes before and signals the approach of another, often used in technology, trends, or sports.

  • The telegraph was a forerunner to modern communication technologies
ancestor

Commonly used when talking about family lineage or historical figures related to someone's heritage.

  • Her ancestors came from Ireland

Examples of usage

  • The antecedent in the sentence 'John is a good boy, and he is always polite' is 'John'.
  • In the sentence 'The book that I bought is interesting', 'book' is the antecedent of 'that'.
Context #2 | Noun

in logic

A preceding circumstance, event, object, style, phenomenon, etc.

Synonyms

forerunner, precursor, predecessor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
antecedent

Used in formal contexts, especially in philosophical, legal, or scientific discussions, to refer to something that came before another thing.

  • The antecedent event that caused the entire situation was the company's bankruptcy
precursor

Generally used to indicate something that paved the way for a later development, often in scientific, technological, or industrial contexts.

  • The telegraph was a precursor to the modern telephone
forerunner

Often used to describe an early version or someone who comes before another as a sign or prediction of what is to come.

  • The early mechanical computer was a forerunner of modern computing technology
predecessor

Commonly used in professional and historical contexts to refer to a person who held a position or a thing that existed before the current one.

  • The new president’s policies are quite different from those of her predecessor

Examples of usage

  • The economic recession had many antecedents, including over-speculation and lack of regulation.
  • The Industrial Revolution had numerous antecedents in the form of technological advancements.

Translations

Translations of the word "antecedent" in other languages:

🇵🇹 antecedente

🇮🇳 पूर्ववर्ती

🇩🇪 Vorgänger

🇮🇩 pendahulu

🇺🇦 попередник

🇵🇱 poprzednik

🇯🇵 前例

🇫🇷 antécédent

🇪🇸 antecedente

🇹🇷 öncül

🇰🇷 선례

🇸🇦 سابق

🇨🇿 předchůdce

🇸🇰 predchodca

🇨🇳 前例

🇸🇮 predhodnik

🇮🇸 forveri

🇰🇿 алғашқы

🇬🇪 წინა

🇦🇿 əvvəlki

🇲🇽 antecedente

Etymology

The word 'antecedent' comes from the Latin word 'antecedens', which is the present participle of 'antecedere', meaning 'to go before'. It entered the English language in the late 16th century. The term has been used in linguistics and logic to refer to something that precedes another element. Over time, its usage has expanded to various fields, including literature, philosophy, and psychology.

See also: accede, intercede, recede.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,050, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.