antecedent
noun [C] /ˌæn.tiˈsiː.dənt/
/-t̬ə-/ Definition
› formal someone or something existing or happening before, especially as the cause or origin of something existing or happening later: Charles Babbage's mechanical calculating engines were the antecedents of the modern computer. Many people feel a great curiosity to find out about their antecedents.Preceding and introducing › specialized a word or phrase that a pronoun refers back to: In the sentence 'He picked a book off the shelf and handed it to Sally', 'book' is the antecedent of 'it'.Grammatical terms
(Definition of antecedent noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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Synonyms and related words:
- announce verb
- antecedent adjective
- antedate verb
- build-up noun (PREPARATION)
- countdown noun
- curtain-raiser noun
- forerunner noun
- herald verb
- introduction noun (BEGINNING)
- introduction noun (GIVING SB'S NAME)
- introductory adjective (BEGINNING)
- introductory adjective (FIRST TIME)
- lead-in noun
- preamble noun
- precursor noun
- predate verb
- predecessor noun
- preface verb
- preliminary adjective
- run-up noun
Topic:
Preceding and introducing
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