An antecedent is a preceding event, condition, cause, phrase, or word.
- Antecedent moisture, a hydrologic term describing the relative wetness condition of a catchment.
- Antecedent (logic), the first half of a hypothetical proposition.
- Antecedent (grammar), the noun phrase to which an anaphor refers.
- A musical phrase (music) may be an antecedent or consequent phrase.
- Antecedent (genealogy), antonym of descendant, genealogical predecessor in family line.
- Antecedent (law), in criminology, the life history and previous convictions of a defendant.
Famous quotes containing the word antecedent:
“Far from being antecedent principles that animate the process, law, language, truth are but abstract names for its results.”
—William James (1842–1910)