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an·te·ced·ent

antecedent

 
 
pronunciation:
aen t si dnt
parts of speech:
adjective, noun
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, noun), Word Parts
part of speech: adjective
definition: occurring before; previous.
The invention of the radio was antecedent to the invention of the television.
synonyms:
anterior, earlier, former, precedent, preceding, previous, prior
antonyms:
subsequent
similar words:
foregoing, precursory, preliminary
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part of speech: noun
definition 1: an event, circumstance, or thing coming before another.
The cannon was an antecedent of the gun.
synonyms:
forerunner, precursor
antonyms:
consequence
similar words:
harbinger, predecessor
definition 2: (pl.) ancestors; earlier life.
He was the first of his antecedents to go to college.
synonyms:
ancestors, ancestresses, ancestry, family tree, forebears, forerunners, predecessors, progenitors
similar words:
fathers, forefathers, primogenitors
definition 3: in grammar, the word or word group to which a pronoun refers, as in "The women demanded their rights," in which "women" is the antecedent of "their."
The word "this" has no clear antecedent in this paragraph, so it's difficult to understand what it refers to.
synonyms:
referent
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derivation: antecedently (adv.)
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