“Coffee, the favorite drink of the civilized world.” – Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States
antecedents
plural of antecedent
Source: Wiktionary
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
17 November 2024
(noun) asceticism as a form of religious life; usually conducted in a community under a common rule and characterized by celibacy and poverty and obedience
“Coffee, the favorite drink of the civilized world.” – Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States