to be, go, or come before or in front of
to be, go, or come ahead or in front of (somebody or something)
to be earlier than (somebody or something)
(usu + with) to introduce or preface (something)
He preceded his address with a welcome to the visitors
to go or come before
preceding adj
[Middle English preceden via French from Latin praecedere, from prae- + cedere to go]