Antecedent: meaning, definitions and examples
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antecedent
[ˌæntɪˈsiːdənt ]
Definitions
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?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
antecedent |
Use when referring to something that logically precedes another or a preceding event or condition.
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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.
|
forerunner |
Best used to describe something or someone that comes before and signals the approach of another, often used in technology, trends, or sports.
|
ancestor |
Commonly used when talking about family lineage or historical figures related to someone's heritage.
|
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'.
in logic
A preceding circumstance, event, object, style, phenomenon, etc.
Synonyms
forerunner, precursor, predecessor.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
antecedent |
Used in formal contexts, especially in philosophical, legal, or scientific discussions, to refer to something that came before another thing.
|
precursor |
Generally used to indicate something that paved the way for a later development, often in scientific, technological, or industrial contexts.
|
forerunner |
Often used to describe an early version or someone who comes before another as a sign or prediction of what is to come.
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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.
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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.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- 'Antecedent' comes from Latin, where 'ante' means 'before' and 'cedere' means 'to go.'
- The term has been used in the English language since the 1600s to describe things that precede others.
- In grammar, it refers to a word or phrase that a pronoun replaces, helping to clarify meaning.
Logic and Philosophy
- In conditional statements, the antecedent is the part that follows 'if,' indicating a condition that must be met.
- Philosophers often explore antecedents in causal relationships, discussing how past events lead to present outcomes.
- Understanding antecedents is crucial in constructing valid arguments and reasoning in deductive logic.
Psychology
- Antecedents in behavioral psychology refer to triggers or events that occur before a certain behavior, influencing how individuals respond.
- Recognizing antecedents can help in behaviour modification techniques, such as addressing negative behaviors by identifying their causes.
- The concept is integral in understanding habits; identifying what happens before a habit can lead to change.
Literature
- In literature, antecedents contribute to plot development by providing background that shapes characters' decisions.
- Authors often use antecedents to build suspense, hinting at events that influence the climax of the story.
- Literary analysis often considers an antecedent event's role in shaping a narrative and the characters' journey.
Education
- In teaching, recognizing the antecedents of a student's behavior can help inform teaching strategies and classroom management.
- Differentiating instruction based on students' antecedent experiences leads to better engagement and understanding.
- Curriculum designs often consider students’ antecedent knowledge to build new concepts effectively.
Translations
Translations of the word "antecedent" in other languages:
🇵🇹 antecedente
🇮🇳 पूर्ववर्ती
- पूर्वज
- पूर्ववर्तिता
🇩🇪 Vorgänger
- Vorläufer
- vorhergehend
🇮🇩 pendahulu
🇺🇦 попередник
- предок
- попередній
🇵🇱 poprzednik
- przodek
- wcześniejszy
🇯🇵 前例
- 先行する
- 先立つ
🇫🇷 antécédent
- prédécesseur
- précédent
🇪🇸 antecedente
🇹🇷 öncül
- selef
- önceki
🇰🇷 선례
- 선행
- 이전
🇸🇦 سابق
- سلف
- سابق الذكر
🇨🇿 předchůdce
- předchozí
- předchozí stav
🇸🇰 predchodca
- predchádzajúci
- predchádzajúci stav
🇨🇳 前例
- 先例
- 先行
🇸🇮 predhodnik
- prejšnji
- pretekli
🇮🇸 forveri
- fyrri
- forsendur
🇰🇿 алғашқы
- алдынғы
- бұрынғы
🇬🇪 წინა
🇦🇿 əvvəlki
- sələf
- köhnə
🇲🇽 antecedente
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.
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- 11047 registrar
- 11048 visitation
- 11049 maxim
- 11050 antecedent
- 11051 aversion
- 11052 pickup
- 11053 penicillin
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