ANTECEDENTLY

previously, antecedently

(adverb) at an earlier time or formerly; “she had previously lived in Chicago”; “he was previously president of a bank”; “better than anything previously proposed”; “a previously unquestioned attitude”; “antecedently arranged”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adverb

antecedently (comparative more antecedently, superlative most antecedently)

At an earlier time.

Synonyms: beforehand, earlier, precedently, previously

Antonyms: afterward, later, subsequently

Source: Wiktionary


An`te*ced"ent*ly, adv.

Definition: Previously; before in time; at a time preceding; as, antecedently to conversion. Barrow.

ANTECEDENT

An`te*ced"ent, a. Etym: [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.

An`te*ced"ent, n. Etym: [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.

Definition: 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.)

Definition: 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.)

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

4 April 2025

GUILLOTINE

(verb) kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine; “The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

According to WorldAtlas, Finland is the biggest coffee consumer in the entire world. The average Finn will consume 12 kg of coffee each year.

coffee icon