antecedent

名词 antecedent:

1. someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
   同义词：ancestor, ascendant, ascendent, root
2. a preceding occurrence or cause or event
3. anything that precedes something similar in time
   同义词：forerunner
4. the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun

形容词 antecedent:

1. preceding in time or order
   同义词：preceding

an.te.ce.dent

adj.（形容词）
Going before; preceding.
先前的；前面的
n.（名词）
One that precedes another.
前项：排在某一个前面的

A preceding occurrence, cause, or event.See Synonyms at cause
先前的情况：前面的起因、理由或事情参见 cause
antecedents The important events and occurrences in one`s early life.
antecedents 早先的：某人早期生活中的重要事情及事件
antecedents One`s ancestors.
antecedents 祖先
Grammar The word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers.
【语法】 先行词：代名词所指代的词，短语或句子
Mathematics The first term of a ratio.
【数学】 比例前项
Logic The conditional member of a hypothetical proposition.
【逻辑学】 前提，前提条件：假设命题中的条件

【引伸】
an.tece.dently
adv.（副词）