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   antecedent

   /ˌantɪˈsiːd(ə)nt/

   noun

   • 1. a thing that existed before or logically precedes another: "some antecedents to the African novel might exist in Africa's oral traditions" Similar precursorforerunnerpredecessor
   • 2. a person's ancestors or family and social background: "her early life and antecedents have been traced" Similar ancestorforefatherforebearpredecessorprogenitorfamilyfamily treestockancestrydescentgenealogyrootsextractionbirthhistorypastbackgroundrecordrare:filiationstirpsOpposite descendant
   • 3. an earlier word, phrase, or clause to which another word (especially a following relative pronoun) refers back.
   • 4. the statement contained in the ‘if’ clause of a conditional proposition.

   adjective

   • 1. preceding in time or order; previous or pre-existing: "antecedent events"
   • 2. denoting or counting as an antecedent.

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French or from Latin antecedent- ‘going before’, from antecedere, from ante ‘before’ + cedere ‘go’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. antecedence noun
   • 2. antecedently adverb

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • A

     1

   • N

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • C

     3

   • E

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   • D

     2

   • E

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   • N

     1

   • T

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