| 释义 |
an·te·ced·ent
I. \ˌantəˈsēdənt, ˌaan-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin antecedent-, antecedens grammatical antecedent, logical antecedent, from Latin antecedent-, antecedens logical antecedent, literally, one that goes before, from neuter of antecedent-, antecedens, present participle of antecedere
1.
a. : a substantive word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun, typically by a following pronoun (as John in “I saw John and spoke to him” or that he is ill in “I hear that he is ill and it worries me”)
b. : any word or group of words replaced and referred to by a substitute (as at the meeting in “I looked for him at the meeting but he wasn't there”)
2. logic
a.
(1) : the conditional element in a proposition (as if A in the proposition “if A, then B”)
(2) : either premise in a categorical syllogism
b. : the condition upon which truth depends
3. : the first term of a mathematical ratio (as a in the ratio a:b)
4.
a. : an event, condition, situation, circumstance, or complex preceding and often influencing or conditioning an occurrence or issue — usually used in plural
< antecedents and consequences of the war >
b. antecedents plural : the significant events, conditions, principles, traits, or activities of one's earlier life
5.
a. : a predecessor in a series; especially : one that may serve as a model or stimulus for later developments in the series
< a stringed instrument believed to be an antecedent of the banjo >
b. antecedents plural : ancestors, forefathers, parents
< of English and Scotch-Irish antecedents >
6.
a. in canon and fugue : the subject or opening theme restated by the consequent
b. : a proposing phrase or section of a musical passage as distinguished from the following responding phrase or section
Synonyms: see cause
II. \| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin antecedent-, antecedens, present participle of antecedere
1. : existing or occurring before in time or order often with consequential effects : prior, anterior, preceding
< a synthesis of much antecedent thought — H.O.Taylor >
< rights to government — Time >
2. logic : prior to investigation, further knowledge, or setting up of conditions : a priori : presumptive
< an antecedent probability >
3. : established before the deformation of a surface and persisting after the deformation has taken place and in spite of it — used of drainage, a stream, or a valley; compare consequent II 5
• an·te·ced·ent·ly adverb |