antecedent
/ˌæntɪˈsidənt/ noun C2- Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.
- An ancestor.
- A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun or other pro-form.
- The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p→q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent.
- The first of two subsets of a sequent, consisting of all the sequent's formulae which are valuated as true.
- The first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a in the ratio a:b, the other being the consequent.
- Previous principles, conduct, history, etc.
Plural antecedents
From the library
The first difficulty which we had to contend with was the finding of this American’s antecedents.
His high character, his profession, his antecedents would all forbid it.’
Other matches
Learn antecedent in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.