precede
nounEtymology From Middle French précéder, from Latin praecēdō, from prae- + cēdō.
1
Brief editorial preface (usually to an article or essay).
precede
verbUK /pɹɪˈsiːd/ · US /pɹɪˈsid/
Etymology From Middle French précéder, from Latin praecēdō, from prae- + cēdō.
1
To go before, go in front of.
- Cultural genocide precedes physical genocide.
- But harm precedes not sin: onely our Foe / Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem / Of our integritie1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
2 more examples
- This is the custom of sending on a basket-woman, who is to precede the pomp at a coronation, and to strew the stage with flowers, before the great personages begin their procession.1749, Henry Fielding, chapter I, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book IV:
- An interesting feature in the weeks preceding the diversions was the provision of a road-learning train to familiarise main line drivers with the alternative route.1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 102:
2
To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce.
- It has been usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration communicated to the enemy.1832, James Kent, Commentaries on American Law, Volume 1, page 52
3
To have higher rank than (someone or something else).
- Synonyms
- forego, antecede, come before, precede
- Antonyms
- succeed
- Derived terms
- postcede, precedable, unpreceded
- Related terms
- precedence, precedent, precess, precession, unprecedented