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(), a.[L. antecedens, -entis, p. pr. of antecedere: cf. F. antcdent.] 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. An°teced"ent n.[Cf. F. antcdent.] 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 Mller. 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 propo スポンサード リンク
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