English dictionary

antecedent

/,/&/nt/I/'s/i/d/-/nt/

Definitions, examples, synonyms and antonyms from WordNet 3.0.

adjective

preceding in time or order

adj.all

Antonyms subsequent

Source: WordNet 3.0
Going before in time; prior; anterior; preceding; as, an event <i>antecedent</i> to the Deluge; an <i>antecedent</i> cause.

adjective

Source: webster1913

someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

noun.person

Synonyms ancestor ascendant ascendent root

Antonyms descendant descendent

Source: WordNet 3.0
a preceding occurrence or cause or event

noun.event

Source: WordNet 3.0
anything that precedes something similar in time

noun.linkdef

Examples
Phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience.

Synonyms forerunner

Source: WordNet 3.0
the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun

noun.communication

Source: WordNet 3.0
That which goes before in time; that which precedes.

noun

Source: webster1913