| / English Dictionary |
ANTECEDENT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("antecedent" is a kind of...):
referent (something referred to; the object of a reference)
Derivation:
antecedent (preceding in time or order)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A preceding occurrence or cause or event
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("antecedent" is a kind of...):
cause (events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something)
Derivation:
antecede (be earlier in time; go back further)
antecedent (preceding in time or order)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
Synonyms:
ancestor; antecedent; ascendant; ascendent; root
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("antecedent" is a kind of...):
relation; relative (a person related by blood or marriage)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "antecedent"):
ancestress (a woman ancestor)
forbear; forebear (a person from whom you are descended)
father; forefather; sire (the founder of a family)
foremother (a woman ancestor)
primogenitor; progenitor (an ancestor in the direct line)
Derivation:
antecedent (preceding in time or order)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Anything that precedes something similar in time
Example:
phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience
Synonyms:
antecedent; forerunner
Classified under:
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas
Hypernyms ("antecedent" is a kind of...):
temporal relation (a relation involving time)
Derivation:
antecedent (preceding in time or order)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Preceding in time or order
Classified under:
Similar:
anterior; prior (earlier in time)
anticipatory; prevenient (in anticipation)
pre-existent; pre-existing; preexistent; preexisting (existing previously or before something)
Also:
preceding (existing or coming before)
Antonym:
subsequent (following in time or order)
Derivation:
antecedence; antecedency (preceding in time)
antecedent (the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun)
antecedent (a preceding occurrence or cause or event)
antecedent (someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent))
antecedent (anything that precedes something similar in time)
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