Library / English Dictionary

ANTECEDENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("antecedent" is a kind of...):

referent (something referred to; the object of a reference)

Derivation:

antecedent (preceding in time or order)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A preceding occurrence or cause or event

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("antecedent" is a kind of...):

cause (events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something)

Derivation:

antecede (be earlier in time; go back further)

antecedent (preceding in time or order)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

Synonyms:

ancestor; antecedent; ascendant; ascendent; root

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("antecedent" is a kind of...):

relation; relative (a person related by blood or marriage)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "antecedent"):

ancestress (a woman ancestor)

forbear; forebear (a person from whom you are descended)

father; forefather; sire (the founder of a family)

foremother (a woman ancestor)

primogenitor; progenitor (an ancestor in the direct line)

Derivation:

antecedent (preceding in time or order)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Anything that precedes something similar in time

Example:

phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience

Synonyms:

antecedent; forerunner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Hypernyms ("antecedent" is a kind of...):

temporal relation (a relation involving time)

Derivation:

antecedent (preceding in time or order)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Preceding in time or order

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

anterior; prior (earlier in time)

anticipatory; prevenient (in anticipation)

pre-existent; pre-existing; preexistent; preexisting (existing previously or before something)

Also:

preceding (existing or coming before)

Antonym:

subsequent (following in time or order)

Derivation:

antecedence; antecedency (preceding in time)

antecedent (the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun)

antecedent (a preceding occurrence or cause or event)

antecedent (someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent))

antecedent (anything that precedes something similar in time)

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