3. To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; -- used with by
or with before the instrumental object. [R.]
It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration.
Kent.
{ Pre*ced"ence (?), Pre*ced"en*cy (?), } n. [Cf. F. prÈcÈdence. See
Precede.] 1. The act or state of preceding or going before in order of
time; priority; as, one event has precedence of another.
2. The act or state of going or being before in rank or dignity, or the
place of honor; right to a more honorable place; superior rank; as,
barons have precedence of commoners.
Which of them [the different desires] has the precedency in
determining the will to the next action?
Locke.
Syn. -- Antecedence; priority; preÎminence; preference; superiority.
Pre*ced"ent (?), a. [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf.
F. prÈcÈdent. See Precede.] Going before; anterior; preceding;
antecedent; as, precedent services. Shak. "A precedent injury." Bacon.
Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an
estate, or the accruing of a right.
Prec"e*dent (?), n. 1. Something done or said that may serve as an
example to authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an
authoritative example.
Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.
Hooker.
2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a
prognostic; a token; a sign. [Obs.]
3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy. [Obs.]
Shak.
4. (Law) A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future
determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be
followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in
similar cases. Wharton.
Syn. -- Example; antecedent. -- Precedent, Example. An example in a
similar case which may serve as a rule or guide, but has no authority
out of itself. A precedent is something which comes down to us from the
past with the sanction of usage and of common consent. We quote
examples in literature, and precedents in law.
Prec"e*dent*ed, a. Having a precedent; authorized or sanctioned by an
example of a like kind. Walpole.
Prec`e*den"tial (?), a. Of the nature of a precedent; having force as
an example for imitation; as, precedential transactions.
All their actions in that time are not precedential to warrant
posterity.
Fuller.
Pre*ced"ent*ly (?), adv. Beforehand; antecedently.
Pre*ced"ing, a. 1. Going before; -- opposed to following.
2. (Astron.) In the direction toward which stars appear to move. See
Following, 2.
Pre*cel" (?), v. t. & i. [See Precellence.] To surpass; to excel; to
exceed. [Obs.] Howell.
{ Pre*cel"lence (?), Pre*cel"len*cy (?), } n. [L. praecellentia, from
praecellens, p. pr. of praecellere to excel, surpass: cf. OF.
precellence.] Excellence; superiority. [Obs.] Sheldon.
Pre*cel"lent (?), a. [L. praecellens, p. pr.] Excellent; surpassing.
[Obs.] Holland.
Pre*cen"tor (?), n. [L. praecentor, fr. praecinere to sing before; prae
before + canere to sing. See Chant.] A leader of a choir; a directing
singer. Specifically: (a) The leader of the choir in a cathedral; --
called also the chanter or master of the choir. Hook. (b) The leader of
the congregational singing in Scottish and other churches.
Pre*cen"tor*ship, n. The office of a precentor.
Pre"cept (?), n. [L. praeceptum, from praecipere to take beforehand, to
instruct, teach; prae before + capere to take: cf. F. prÈcepte. See
Pre-, and Capacious.] 1. Any commandment, instruction, or order
intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting
moral conduct; an injunction; a rule.
For precept must be upon precept.
Isa. xxviii. 10.
No arts are without their precepts.
Dryden.