An`te*ced"ent , n. [Cf.
F. antécédent.]
1. That which goes before in time; that
which precedes. South.
The
Homeric mythology, as well as the Homeric language, has surely its
antecedents.
Max Miller.
2.
One who precedes or goes in front. [Obs.]
My antecedent, or my gentleman usher.
Massinger.
3. pl. The earlier events of one's life; previous principles, conduct, course, history. J. H. Newman.
If the troops . . . prove worthy of their antecedents, the victory is surely ours.
Gen. G.
McClellan.
4. (Gram.) The noun to which
a relative refers; as, in the sentence "Solomon was the prince who built the temple," prince is the antecedent of who.
5. (Logic) (a)
The first or conditional part of a
hypothetical proposition; as, If the earth is fixed, the sun must move. (b)
The first of the two
propositions which constitute an enthymeme or contracted syllogism;
as, Every man is mortal; therefore the king must
die.
6. (Math.) The first of the
two terms of a
ratio; the first or third of the
four terms of a proportion. In the ratio
a:b, a is the antecedent, and b the consequent.
An`te*ced"ent (&?;), a.
[L. antecedens, -entis, p. pr. of antecedere: cf. F. antécédent.]
1. Going before in time; prior; anterior; preceding; as, an event
antecedent to the Deluge; an antecedent cause.
2. Presumptive; as, an antecedent improbability.
Syn. -- Prior; previous; foregoing.
Hear it pronounced