| 释义 |
precedent
I. prece·dent \(ˈ)prē|sēdənt, prə̇ˈs-, or like precedent II\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin praecedent-, praecedens, present participle of praecedere to precede — more at precede
1. : going before in time : anterior, preceding, antecedent
< a series of precedent causes going back to infinity — C.H.Whiteley >
2. : going before in order or arrangement
< a precedent theorem >
II. prec·e·dent \ˈpresədənt also -ədənt or -estənt sometimes -rēs- or -rez(ə)d- or -əˌdent\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from precedent, adjective
1.
a. : something that precedes; especially : an earlier occurrence of a similar character
< precedents would seem to show that the reduction of armaments is conducive to war — F.A.Voigt >
b. : a rough draft of a writing : original
c. : token, sign
2.
a.
(1) : something done or said that may serve as an example or rule to authorize or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind : an authoritative example
< took the exploits of the American colonists as a precedent for subversive activity >
(2) : the norm for subsequent practice set by such a precedent
< the founder also set the precedent of only paying himself a salary — Current Biography >
(3) : prevailing custom established by long practice : convention
< followed historical precedent in organizing the town >
< broke precedent when they elected a woman >
b. : a judicial decision, a form of proceeding, or course of action that serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases : an authority to be followed in courts of justice — compare dictum
3.
a. : a person or thing serving as a model
b. obsolete : specimen, instance
III. prec·e·dent \-ent also -ənt or -ənt\ transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
: to furnish with or support or justify by a precedent |