ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›A›antecedent
ISEE/SSAThard
antecedent
an earlier event, condition, or thing from which something later develops
Synonyms
- precursor
- forerunner
- predecessor
Antonyms
- successor
- descendant
- sequel
antecedent in a sentence
Historians traced the revolution's antecedents back to decades of unequal taxation policy.
The lawyer argued that the contract's antecedent, an earlier verbal agreement, should still bind both parties.
Where it comes from
From Latin antecedere 'to go before'
Memory hook
ANTE (before) + CEDE (go) — the thing that came before.
Word parts
- ante — before, previous
antecedent: ante- (before) + ced (go) + -ent - ced/cess — go, yield
antecedent: ante- (before) + ced (go) + -ent
Read it in context
- The Speaking Ground Arts
Practice antecedent in the app