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Existing previously; preceding existence; as, a preëxistent state. Pope.

nold. Proper preface (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.), a portion of the communion service, preceding the prayer of consecration, appointed for certain seasons.

A term collectively applied to the changes or conditions preceding fecundation, especially to the changes which the ovum undergoes before fecundation.

Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures; preliminary examinations.

An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture. The last Georgic wa…

d, until resolved in the chord that follows; the anticipation of a discordant note in the preceding concord, so that the ear is prepared for the shock. See Suspension.

Preceding the systole or contraction of the heart; as, the presystolic friction sound.

Going before; preceding; hence, preventive. "Prevenient grace descending." Milton.

Going before; preceding. [Obs.] Any previous counsel or preventive understanding. Cudworth.

Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; -- used elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior to his marriage.

The quality or state of being prior or antecedent in time, or of preceding something else; as, priority of application.

Nearest; next immediately preceding or following. "Proximate ancestors." J. S. Harford. The proximate natural causes of it [the deluge]. T. Burnet. Proximate analysis (Chem.), an analysis which determines the proximate principles of any substance, as contrasted with an ultimate analysis. -- Proximate cause. (a) A caus…

Next; immediately preceding or following. [Obs.]

The forty days of fast preceding Easter; Lent. Quadragesima Sunday, the first Sunday in Lent, about forty days before Easter.

or concise statement or enumeration, of the principal points, facts, or statements, in a preceding discourse, argument, or essay.

eries in which the coefficients of the several terms can be expressed by means of certain preceding coefficients and constants in one uniform manner.

Operation on something past or preceding.

Applied to a line or verse in which each successive word has one more syllable than the preceding.

The seventh or last day of the week; the day following Friday and preceding Sunday.

y to be presented to the mind; as, five dots in a line are a schema of the number five; a preceding and succeeding event are a schema of cause and effect.