The difference between Antecedent and Precedent

When used as nouns, antecedent means any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing, whereas precedent means an act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.

When used as adjectives, antecedent means earlier, either in time or in order, whereas precedent means happening or taking place earlier in time.

Precedent is also verb with the meaning: to provide precedents for.

check bellow for the other definitions of Antecedent and Precedent

  1. Antecedent as an adjective:

    Earlier, either in time or in order.

    Examples:

    "an event antecedent to the Biblical Flood"

    "an antecedent cause"

  2. Antecedent as an adjective:

    Presumptive.

    Examples:

    "an antecedent improbability"

  1. Antecedent as a noun:

    Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.

  2. Antecedent as a noun:

    An ancestor.

  3. Antecedent as a noun (grammar):

    A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun.

  4. Antecedent as a noun (logic):

    The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p \rightarrow q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent.

  5. Antecedent as a noun (logic):

    The first of two subsets of a sequent, consisting of all the sequent's formulae which are valuated as true.

    Examples:

    "rfex en"

  6. Antecedent as a noun (math):

    The first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a in the ratio a:b, the other being the consequent.

  7. Antecedent as a noun (mostly, in the plural):

    Previous principles, conduct, history, etc.

  1. Precedent as a noun:

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

  2. Precedent as a noun (legal):

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

  3. Precedent as a noun:

    An established habit or custom.

  4. Precedent as a noun (obsolete, with definite article):

    The aforementioned (thing).

  5. Precedent as a noun:

    The previous version.

  6. Precedent as a noun (obsolete):

    A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Shakespeare"

  1. Precedent as an adjective:

    Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.

  2. Precedent as an adjective (now, _, rare):

    Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.

  1. Precedent as a verb (transitive, legal):

    To provide precedents for.

  2. Precedent as a verb (transitive, legal):

    To be a precedent for.

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