Meaning
2 senses(not comparable)Earlier, either in time or in order.
an antecedent cause
an event antecedent to the Biblical Flood
früher, vorausgehend, vorgängig
предше́ствующийpredšéstvujuščij, предыду́щийpredydúščij
попереднійpoperednij, передуючийperedujučyj
preceding in time or order
(not comparable)Presumptive.
an antecedent improbability
Examples
4 sentencesAlchemy was the antecedent of chemistry.
What do you know about the antecedents of the war?
If we alter the construction of such sentences, the missing antecedent is often restored.
When the antecedent is this, that, these or those it is usual to use 'which'.
deWenn das Bezugswort this, that, these oder those ist, benutzt man gewöhnlich which. — Hans_Adler
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English antecedent, borrowed from Old French antecedent, from Latin antecēdēnsFrom Middle English antecedent, borrowed from Old French antecedent, from Latin antecēdēns (“going before”), from antecēdō (“to precede; excel; surpass”).
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