CA, US, UK /ˈpɹɛs.ɪ.dənt/ · AU, IE /ˈpɹiː.sɪ.dənt/
Etymology From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.
1
An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.[1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
2
Law A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
A third argument may be derived from the precedent., New York 2001, p.74
5
The previous version.
6
Obsolete A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.
My Lord Melun, let this be copied out, I did suppose it should be on constraint ; And keep it safe for our remembrance : But , heaven be thank'd , it is but voluntary , Return the precedent to these lords againc. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
Etymology From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.
1
Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.
2
Archaic Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.
In the precedent section mention was made, amongst other pleasant objects, of this comeliness and beauty which proceeds from women […].1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition III, section 2, member 1, subsection i:
precedent
verb
Etymology From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.