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Origin and history of antecedent

antecedent(n.)

late 14c. in grammar ("noun to which a pronoun refers") and in logic ("if A is, then B is;" A is the antecedent, B the consequent), from Old French antecedent (14c.) or directly from Latin antecedentem (nominative antecedens), noun use of present participle of antecedere "go before, precede," from ante "before" (from PIE root *ant- "front, forehead," with derivatives meaning "in front of, before") + cedere "to yield" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield").

Hence "an event upon which another follows" (1610s). As an adjective in English from c. 1400. Related: Antecedently.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to antecedent

antecedence(n.)

1650s, "fact or act of coming before (another or others) in time, place, or order," from Latin antecedens "a going before" (see antecedent). From 1660s in the specific sense in astronomy, "apparent contrary motion of a planet" (from east to west). Related: Antecedency (1590s).

consequent(n.)

"a thing which follows from a cause," 1610s, from a more precise sense in logic, "that which follows logically from a premise" (late 14c.; compare antecedent), a sense now in consequence. For etymology, see consequent (adj.). Mathematical sense is from 1560s.

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subsequent
"following next in order or time, later," mid-15c., from Old French subsequent (14c.) and directly from Latin subsequentem (nominative subsequens), present participle of subsequi "come after in time, follow closely," figuratively "imitate, conform to," from sub "closely, up to" (
ancestor
"one from whom a person is descended," c. 1300, ancestre, antecessour, from Old French ancestre, ancessor "ancestor, forebear, forefather" (12c., Modern French ancêtre), from Late Latin antecessor "predecessor," literally "fore-goer," agent noun from past-participle stem of Latin
ascendant
late 14c., ascendent, in astrology, "rising over the horizon," from Latin ascendentem (nominative ascendans), present participle of ascendere "to mount, ascend, go up" (see ascend). The sense "moving upward, rising" is recorded from 1590s. As a noun in astrology, "point of the ec
a posteriori
17c., in reference to reasoning from a consequent to its antecedent, from an effect to its cause; Latin, literally "from...
prevenient
The earliest sense is theological, in prevenient grace (c.1600), where it means either "antecedent to human action," specifically...
a priori
1710, "from cause to effect," a Latin term in logic from c. 1300, in reference to reasoning from antecedent to consequent...
relative
In grammar, "referring to an antecedent," from 1520s....
primogenitor
"an ancestor, a forefather," 1650s, from Medieval Latin primogenitor, from Latin primo (adv.) "first in order of time; at first," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + genitor "father," from genitus, past participle of gignere "to beget" (from PIE root *gene- "give birth, bege
relation
c. 1300, relacioun, "relationship, connection, correspondence;" late 14c. as "act of telling or relating in words," from Anglo-French relacioun, Old French relacion "report, connection" (14c.) and directly from Latin relationem (nominative relatio) "a bringing back, restoring; a
oriental
late 14c., "of the orient; from the east," from Old French oriental "eastern, from the east" (12c.) and directly from Latin orientalis "of or belonging to the east," from orientem (see orient (n.)). Originally in reference to the sky, geographical sense, often with a capital O-,

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