antecedence
UK: ˌæntɪˈsiːdəns | US: ˌæntɪˈsiːdəns
n. 1. The fact or state of coming before in time, order, or importance; precedence.
n. 2. (Logic) A preceding event or condition that is the cause of a subsequent phenomenon.
antecedence = ante<before> + ced<go> + ence<noun suffix>
- ante (from Latin ante, meaning "before")
- ced (from Latin cedere, meaning "to go" or "to yield")
- ence (noun-forming suffix indicating state or quality, from Latin -entia)
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin antecedentem (nominative antecedens), combining ante ("before") and cedere ("to go"). It entered Middle English via Old French, retaining its core sense of "going before" in time, logic, or rank. The morphemes reflect a clear spatial-temporal metaphor: ante sets the direction, while ced implies movement, collectively forming a concept of priority.
The antecedence of the Roman Empire to medieval Europe is well-documented.
In logic, establishing antecedence is crucial for determining causality.
Her research focused on the antecedence of climate patterns to agricultural shifts.
The lawyer argued for the antecedence of the contract’s signing date.
Cultural antecedence often explains modern traditions.