Antecedents: meaning, definitions and examples

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antecedents

[ˌantɪˈsiː.dənts ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

legal

A person, thing, or event that existed before or logically precedes another.

Synonyms

ancestor, forerunner, predecessor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
antecedents	Refers to one's personal history or background, often in a more formal or academic context. It can also mean events or circumstances that precede something else. The company’s financial problems have antecedents that go back to its founding Before giving a loan, the bank investigates an applicant’s antecedents
predecessor	Refers to someone who held a job or position before someone else, or to an earlier version of something. The term is often used in professional or technical contexts. Her predecessor left the company in good financial health This model of car is more efficient than its predecessor
ancestor	Used when referring to someone from whom a person is descended, typically many generations back in the family tree. My ancestors emigrated from Ireland in the 1800s He researched his ancestors to learn more about his heritage
forerunner	Typically used to describe someone or something that comes before another thing and indicates its approach or development. Often implies being a precursor or early example of later developments. The telegraph was a forerunner to the modern internet That style of dress is seen as a forerunner of contemporary fashion

Examples of usage

The antecedents of the conflict date back to the colonial era.
In this case, the antecedent is the previous decision made by the court.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

grammar

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

Synonyms

precedent, referent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
antecedents	Often used in a historical, psychological, or genealogical context to refer to events or individuals that came before and influenced the present. It typically has a more formal or academic tone. The historian studied the antecedents of the revolution to understand its origins. Her psychological antecedents include a history of anxiety in her family.
referent	Primarily used in linguistics, philosophy, or semiotics to describe the actual object, concept, or entity that a word or phrase denotes or refers to. It is technical and specific. In the sentence 'The cat sat on the mat,' the word 'cat' is the referent. The philosopher discussed the relationship between words and their referents.
precedent	Commonly used in legal, political, or decision-making contexts to refer to an earlier event or action that is considered as an example or guide for subsequent situations. It tends to carry a formal tone. The court's decision set a precedent for future cases involving privacy rights. There is no precedent for such a large scale project in the company.

Word

Description / Examples

antecedents

Often used in a historical, psychological, or genealogical context to refer to events or individuals that came before and influenced the present. It typically has a more formal or academic tone.

The historian studied the antecedents of the revolution to understand its origins.
Her psychological antecedents include a history of anxiety in her family.

referent

Primarily used in linguistics, philosophy, or semiotics to describe the actual object, concept, or entity that a word or phrase denotes or refers to. It is technical and specific.

In the sentence 'The cat sat on the mat,' the word 'cat' is the referent.
The philosopher discussed the relationship between words and their referents.

precedent

Commonly used in legal, political, or decision-making contexts to refer to an earlier event or action that is considered as an example or guide for subsequent situations. It tends to carry a formal tone.

The court's decision set a precedent for future cases involving privacy rights.
There is no precedent for such a large scale project in the company.

Examples of usage

In the sentence 'John lost his wallet,' 'John' is the antecedent of 'his.'
She asked the students to identify the antecedent of each pronoun in the passage.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'antecedent' comes from the Latin 'antecedens', which means 'going before'.
In Old French, it was formed as 'antecedent', retaining similar meanings related to precedence.
The roots 'ante-' and '-cedent' indicate a combination of 'before' and 'to go', which defines its meaning.

Grammar

In grammar, an antecedent is the noun that a pronoun refers to, such as 'Sarah' in 'Sarah loves her cat.'
Proper understanding of antecedents helps clarify sentences and avoid confusion in language.
It can also refer to previous clauses or phrases that establish context for what follows.

Logic

In logic, antecedents are the 'if' part of a conditional statement, laying the groundwork for what follows.
Exploring antecedents is crucial in logical reasoning, helping to assess the validity of various arguments.
Identifying antecedents in arguments can clarify relationships between concepts and statements.

Psychology

In behavioral psychology, antecedents are events or conditions that trigger certain behaviors, playing a key role in behavior modification.
Understanding antecedents can help therapists identify patterns in patients' behaviors for better treatment outcomes.
This concept is essential in developing interventions aimed at changing or reinforcing specific behaviors.

Education

In educational contexts, recognizing antecedents in a lesson helps students connect new information with their prior knowledge.
Teachers often emphasize antecedents in discussions to enhance comprehension and retention of new concepts.
Utilizing antecedents can improve critical thinking by prompting learners to consider historical context and origins.

Translations

Translations of the word "antecedents" in other languages:

🇵🇹 antecedentes

🇮🇳 पूर्ववर्ती

🇩🇪 Vorfahren

🇮🇩 leluhur

🇺🇦 попередники

🇵🇱 przodkowie

🇯🇵 前例 (ぜんれい)

🇫🇷 antécédents

🇪🇸 antecedentes

🇹🇷 öncüller

🇰🇷 선행 사건

🇸🇦 أسلاف

🇨🇿 předchůdci

🇸🇰 predchodcovia

🇨🇳 前因

🇸🇮 predhodniki

🇮🇸 forverar

🇰🇿 алдыңғылар

🇬🇪 წინამორბედები

🇦🇿 əvvəlkilər

🇲🇽 antecedentes

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,330, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.

...
14327 abrasion
14328 conquering
14329 budding
14330 antecedents
14331 friable
14332 acquittal
14333 nobler
...