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Glite Dictionary
to antecede

to antecede

8.7
To happen before something else in time
  • verb
  • /ˌæntɪˈsiːd/
  • Formal
translation icon : anteceder
  • The invention of the telephone anteceded the development of the internet by many decades.

Examples

  • In the timeline of the project, the research phase must antecede the implementation stage.

  • The events that transpired last year ultimately antecede the recent changes in the policy.

  • Indeed, this whole study has focused precisely on the failure of inanimate DPs to grammatically antecede LDA.

    Academic text (2006)

  • More difficult to explain, the act of Christ's blessing hand, which is depicted as practically unfurling, strangely antecedes that of grabbing the bread.

    Academic text (2007)

  • That this is not the case is already shown by cases like examples 12a and b, 13a, b, and c, 16b, 18, and 20, as well as by the failed inanimate antecedents' ability to, for instance, happily antecede emphatic reflexives:

    Academic text (2006)

Synonyms

to precede
vsto antecede
107 4.1

Happen before something else in time or order

is focused on time rather than order or position
to come before
vsto antecede
98 3.6

To happen earlier than another thing in time or position

is used mainly for time rather than rank or predecessor status
to predate
vsto antecede
41 5.8

To exist or happen before another thing

is about coming before in sequence rather than only existing earlier
to preexist
vsto antecede
11 6.9

To be present before a certain time or event

is about coming before events rather than merely existing earlier
to forego
vsto antecede
  • Archaic
1 7.2

To come before something in time

is about actively coming before rather than just existing earlier
to prelude
vsto antecede
1 6.0

To come before and introduce something larger

is simple earlier occurrence rather than an introductory start
to antedate
vsto antecede
1 8.7

To happen before another event or to put an earlier date on something

is about plain earlier timing rather than changing dates
to forerun
vsto antecede
6.7

To come before and show what will happen next

is neutral earlier timing without implying a prior sign

Antonyms

to follow
∞ 1.0

To come after something in time or order

Surface Forms

antecede infinitive
anteceded past
anteceded past participle
anteceding present participle
antecedes third person singular

Morphology

antecede = cede (semi-transparent) = ante + cede

The prefix 'ante-' clearly means 'before', but the root 'cede' in modern English typically means 'give up' rather than 'go', and 'antecede' is less common than synonyms like 'precede', so learners may not infer the meaning directly.

Etymology

The word antecede comes from the parts ante- 'before' and -cede 'go', the same -cede you see in precede and recede. So, to antecede something is to 'go before' it in time or to come earlier.