Part 483

<h1>Antecedency</h1> <Xpage=62>

<hw>An`te*ced"en*cy</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state or condition of being antecedent; priority.</def>

<i>Fothherby.</i>

<h1>Antecedent</h1> <Xpage=62>

<hw>An`te*ced"ent</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>antecedens</ets>, <ets>-entis</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>antecedere</ets>: cf. F. <ets>ant\'82c\'82dent</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Going before in time; prior; anterior; preceding; <as>as, an event <ex>antecedent</ex> to the Deluge; an <ex>antecedent</ex> cause.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Presumptive; <as>as, an <ex>antecedent</ex> improbability</as>.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- Prior; previous; foregoing.</syn>

<h1>Antecedent</h1> <Xpage=62>

<hw>An`te*ced"ent</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>ant\'82c\'82dent</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>That which goes before in time; that which precedes.</def>

<i>South.</i>

<blockquote>The Homeric mythology, as well as the Homeric language, has surely its <b>antecedents</b>. <i>Max Miller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>One who precedes or goes in front.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>My <b>antecedent</b>, or my gentleman usher. <i>Massinger.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>The earlier events of one's life; previous principles, conduct, course, history.</def>

<i>J. H. Newman.</i>

<blockquote>If the troops . . . prove worthy of their <b>antecedents</b>, the victory is surely ours. <i>Gen. G. McClellan.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <def>The noun to which a relative refers; <as>as, in the sentence "Solomon was the prince who built the temple," <ex>prince</ex> is the <ex>antecedent</ex> of <ex>who</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Logic)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>The first or conditional part of a hypothetical proposition; <as>as, If the earth is fixed, the sun must move</as>.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>The first of the two propositions which constitute an enthymeme or contracted syllogism; as, Every man is mortal; therefore the king must die.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Math.)</fld> <def>The first of the two terms of a ratio; the first or third of the four terms of a proportion. In the ratio <it>a</it>:<it>b</it>, <it>a</it> is the <i>antecedent</i>, and <it>b</it> the consequent.</def>

<h1>Antecedently</h1> <Xpage=62>

<hw>An`te*ced"ent*ly</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>Previously; before in time; at a time preceding; <as>as, <ex>antecedently</ex> to conversion</as>.</def>

<i>Barrow.</i>

<h1>Antecessor</h1> <Xpage=62>

<hw>An`te*ces"sor</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L., fr. <ets>antecedere</ets>, <ets>antecessum</ets>. See <er>Antecede</er>, <er>Ancestor</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who goes before; a predecessor.</def>

<blockquote>The successor seldom prosecuting his <b>antecessor's</b> devices. <i>Sir E. Sandys.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An ancestor; a progenitor.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Antechamber</h1> <Xpage=62>

<hw>An"te*cham`ber</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>antichambre</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A chamber or apartment before the chief apartment and leading into it, in which persons wait for audience; an outer chamber. See <er>Lobby</er>.</def>