2. Presumptive; as, an antecedent improbability.
Syn: Prior; previous; foregoing.
The Homeric mythology, as well as the Homeric
language, has surely its antecedents. --Max Miller.
2. One who precedes or goes in front. [Obs.]
My antecedent, or my gentleman usher. --Massinger.
3. pl. The earlier events of one's life; previous principles,
conduct, course, history. --J. H. Newman.
If the troops . . . prove worthy of their
antecedents, the victory is surely ours. --Gen. G.
McClellan.
4. (Gram.) The noun to which a relative refers; as, in the
sentence ``Solomon was the prince who built the temple,''
prince is the antecedent of who.
5. (Logic)
(a) The first or conditional part of a hypothetical
proposition; as, If the earth is fixed, the sun must
move.
(b) The first of the two propositions which constitute an
enthymeme or contracted syllogism; as, Every man is
mortal; therefore the king must die.
6. (Math.) The first of the two terms of a ratio; the first
or third of the four terms of a proportion. In the ratio
a:b, a is the antecedent, and b the consequent.