precedent

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Contents

English [edit]

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Alternative forms [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (to precede); See precede.

Pronunciation [edit]

Phonetik.svg This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with enPR, IPA or SAMPA then please add some!
Particularly: “check the Australian pronunciation; I transcribed it from actual speech. -sche. Also, I think the adj. is not pronounced as the noun in the US, DCDuring”

Noun [edit]

precedent (plural precedents)

  1. An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
    • Hooker
      Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.
  2. (law) A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
  3. (Should we delete(+) this sense?) (obsolete, with definite article) The aforementioned (thing).
  4. (Should we delete(+) this sense?) The previous version.
  5. (obsolete) A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

Derived terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

Adjective [edit]

precedent (not comparable)

  1. Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.
    • Francis Bacon
      A precedent injury.

Translations [edit]

Verb [edit]

precedent (third-person singular simple present precedents, present participle precedenting, simple past and past participle precedented)

  1. (transitive, law) To provide precedents for.
  2. (transitive, law) To be a precedent for.

See also [edit]