Part 475

Pre*curse" (?), n. [L. praecursus.] A forerunning. [Obs.] Shak.

Pre*cur"sive (?), a. Preceding; introductory; precursory. "A deep precursive sound." Coleridge.

Pre*cur"sor (?), n. [L. praecursor, fr. praecurrere to run before; prae before + currere to run. See Course.] One who, or that which, precedes an event, and indicates its approach; a forerunner; a harbinger.

Evil thoughts are the invisible, airy precursors of all the storms and tempests of the soul.

Buckminster.

Syn. -- Predecessor; forerunner; harbinger; messenger; omen; sign.

Pre*cur"sor*ship, n. The position or condition of a precursor. Ruskin.

Pre*cur"so*ry (?), a. [L. praecursorius.] Preceding as a precursor or harbinger; indicating something to follow; as, precursory symptoms of a fever.

Pre*cur"so*ry, n. An introduction. [Obs.]

Pre*da"cean (?), n. [L. praeda prey.] (Zoˆl.) A carnivorous animal. Kirby.

Pre*da"ceous (?), a. [L. praeda prey. See Prey.] Living by prey; predatory. Derham.

Pre"dal (?), a. [L. praeda prey.] Of or pertaining to prey; plundering; predatory. [R.] Boyse.

Pre*date" (?), v. t. To date anticipation; to affix to (a document) an earlier than the actual date; to antedate; as, a predated deed or letter.

Pre*da"tion (?), n. [L. praedatio, fr. praedari to plunder.] The act of pillaging. E. Hall.

Pred"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a predatory manner.

Pred"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. praedatorius, fr. praedari to plunder, fr. praeda prey. See Prey.] 1. Characterized by plundering; practicing rapine; plundering; pillaging; as, a predatory excursion; a predatory party. "A predatory war." Macaulay.

2. Hungry; ravenous; as, predatory spirits. [Obs.]

Exercise . . . maketh the spirits more hot and predatory.

Bacon.

3. (Zoˆl.) Living by preying upon other animals; carnivorous.

Prede (?), v. i. [L. praedari. See Prey.] To prey; to plunder. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Prede, n. Prey; plunder; booty. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Pre"de*cay` (?), n. Premature decay.

Pre`de*cease (?), v. t. To die sooner than. "If children predecease progenitors." Shak.

Pre"de*cease` (?), n. The death of one person or thing before another. [R.] Brougham.

Pred`e*ces"sive (?), a. Going before; preceding. "Our predecessive students." Massinger.

Pred`e*ces"sor (?; 277), n. [L. praedecessor; prae before + decessor one who withdraws from the province he has governed, a retiring officer (with reference to his successor), a predecessor, fr. decedere: cf. F. prÈdÈcesseur. See Decease.] One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.

A prince who was as watchful as his predecessor had been over the interests of the state.