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Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services. Shak. "A precedent injury." Bacon. Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right.

Having a precedent; authorized or sanctioned by an example of a like kind. Walpole.

Of the nature of a precedent; having force as an example for imitation; as, precedential transactions. All their actions in that time are not precedential to warrant posterity. Fuller.

Beforehand; antecedently.

Having no precedent or example; not preceded by a like case; not having the authority of prior example; novel; new; unexampled. -- Un*prec"e*dent*ed*ly, adv.

A precedent; a decision of a court, an official declaration, or an opinion, saying, or statement worthy to be taken as a precedent.

skull really belonged to the deposit in which it was found. If it did, it indicates an unprecedented antiquity for human beings of an advanced type.

That which resembles or corresponds with something else; a precedent; a model. Such temperate order in so fierce a cause Doth want example. Shak.

d prescribed forms, as of oaths, declarations, prayers, medical formulaæ, etc.; a book of precedents.

ion in which the lower classes of a nation control public affairs without respect to law, precedents, or vested rights. It is good name that Dr. Stevens has given to our present situation (for one can not call it a government), a mobocracy. Walpole.

Containing a part only; limited; as, a particular estate, or one precedent to an estate in remainder.

A previous treatment and decision of a point; a precedent.

Precedent. [Obs.] Bacon.

us through generations for their puerile affectation of Roman forms, models, and historic precedents. De Quincey.

dressing the senses; suggesting pictures or images of sense. To this poetry would be made precedent, as being less subtle and fine, but more simple, sensuous, and passionate. Milton.

he French metaphysicians) sentiment as synonymous with feeling; a use of the word quite unprecedented in our tongue. Stewart. Less of sentiment than sense. Tennyson.

succeeding; as, a subsequent clause in a treaty. "The subsequent words come on before the precedent vanish." Bacon.

isional and suspensive attitude. J. Morley. Suspensive condition (Scots Law), a condition precedent, or a condition without the performance of which the contract can not be completed.

Having no example or similar case; being without precedent; unprecedented; unparalleled. "A revolution . . . unexampled for grandeur of results." De Quincey.

New; unprecedented; unparalleled. Swift.