antecedent

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Adjective 1.1.1 Translations 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Synonyms 1.2.2 Holonyms 1.2.3 Related terms 1.2.4 Translations 2 Dutch 2.1 Pronunciation

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Adjective

antecedent (not comparable)

1. earlier either in time or order

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

antecedent (plural antecedents)

1. any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing
2. (in plural) one's ancestors
3. (grammar) a word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun

   In "The policeman asked the boy what he was doing" the phrase "the boy" is the antecedent of the pronoun "he".

   In the sentence "I saw my girlfriend yesterday wearing her old jacket which is odd because she almost never wears it.", the phrase "my girlfriend" is the antecedent of "her" and "old jacket" is the antecedent of "it".

4. (logic) The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition
5. an ancestor

[edit] Synonyms

• precursor
• forerunner
• predecessor
• forebear

[edit] Holonyms

• Wikisaurus:argument form

[edit] Related terms

• precedent
• (logic): consequent

[edit] Translations

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[edit] Dutch

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}
• antecedent