PRECEDENT

precedent

(adjective) preceding in time, order, or significance

precedent, case in point

(noun) an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time

precedent

(noun) a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Noun

precedent (plural precedents)

An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.

(legal) A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.

An established habit or custom.

(obsolete, with definite article) The aforementioned (thing).

The previous version.

(obsolete) A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.

Coordinate terms

• (a case used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent one): case law

Adjective

precedent (not comparable)

Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding. [from 14th c.]

(now rare) Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing. [from 15th c.]

Verb

precedent (third-person singular simple present precedents, present participle precedenting, simple past and past participle precedented)

(transitive, legal) To provide precedents for.

(transitive, legal) To be a precedent for.

Source: Wiktionary

---

Pre*ced"ent, a. Etym: [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf. F. précédent. See Precede.]

Definition: Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services. Shak. "A precedent injury." Bacon. Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right.

Prec"e*dent, n.

1. Something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an authoritative example. Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only. Hooker.

2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign. [Obs.]

3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy. [Obs.] Shak.

4. (Law)

Definition: A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases. Wharton.

Syn.

– Example; antecedent.

– Precedent, Example. An example in a similar case which may serve as a rule or guide, but has no authority out of itself. A precedent is something which comes down to us from the past with the sanction of usage and of common consent. We quote examples in literature, and precedents in law.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---

Do you know this game?

Wordscapes is a popular word game consistently in the top charts of both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android version has more than 10 million installs. This guide will help you get more coins in less than two minutes of playing the game. Continue reading Wordscapes: Get More Coins