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antecedent

antecedent

5 7.3
An event or situation that happened before something and helped cause it
  • noun
  • /ˌæn.tɪˈsiː.dənt/
translation icon : antecedente
  • The uncertainty generated by Beckett's works has an antecedent in the uncertainties that arise in response to Gothic narratives.
  • developmental antecedents
  • antecedents and consequences
  • antecedents of belief

Quite often these these pundits will point to historical antecedents such as the Great Depression.

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Examples

  • Quite often these these pundits will point to historical antecedents such as the Great Depression.

  • Affect was an antecedent of creativity.

  • For aggression toward teachers, the most frequent antecedent observed was a teacher social command.

    Academic text (1999)
  • A review of the literature suggests several antecedents to role conflict.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The timing of complications associated with diabetes, hypertension, or their antecedents depends on many factors.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Although there were indigenous historical antecedents to present-day higher education institutions in Arab lands.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Many scientists study historical events as antecedents to understand modern phenomena.

  • In her presentation, she described the social antecedents that led to the movement.

  • The researcher identified several cultural antecedents that influenced the development of the festival.

Synonyms

precursor
vsantecedent
27 7.2

A person, thing, or event that comes before and signals what will follow

is earlier and usually acts as a cause or influence not merely a signal
prelude
vsantecedent
25 5.9

An event that comes before and leads to a more important event

is an earlier event that often serves as a cause or influence
prelude to
vsantecedent
16 4.4

An event that comes before something more important

is an earlier event that often serves as a cause or influence
predecessor
vsantecedent
13 4.9

Something that comes before and points to what comes next

is earlier and often acts as a cause or influence on following events
forerunner
vsantecedent
11 6.2

A person or thing that comes before something to prepare people

is earlier and more about causing or influencing what follows

Antonyms

171 4.4

Happening after something else in time

consequent
  • Specialized
7.1

The part of an if then sentence that follows then

Compounds

A protein in blood that helps it to clot and whose lack causes heavy bleeding

Surface Forms

antecedent singular
antecedents plural

Morphology

antecedent = antecede (opaque) = ante + ced + ent

The noun/adjectival formation from the verb 'antecede' via '-ent' is a standard morphological process.

Etymology

Antecedent comes from the Latin parts ante- 'before' and cedere 'to go'. So an antecedent event is something that 'went before' and helped cause what happened next.