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