1. Something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the same
kind; an authoritative example.
Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.
Hooker. 2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign. [Obs.]
3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy. [Obs.] Shak.
4. (Law) A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous
cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases.
Wharton.
Syn. — Example; antecedent. — Precedent, Example. An example in a similar case which may serve
as a rule or guide, but has no authority out of itself. A precedent is something which comes down to us
from the past with the sanction of usage and of common consent. We quote examples in literature, and
precedents in law.
Precedented
(Prec"e*dent*ed), a. Having a precedent; authorized or sanctioned by an example of a like
kind. Walpole.
Precedential
(Prec`e*den"tial) a. 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All their actions in that time are not precedential to warrant posterity.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. Precedently
(Pre*ced"ent*ly) adv. Beforehand; antecedently.
Preceding
(Pre*ced"ing), a.
1. Going before; — opposed to following.
2. (Astron.) In the direction toward which stars appear to move. See Following, 2.
Precel
(Pre*cel") v. t. & i. [See Precellence.] To surpass; to excel; to exceed. [Obs.] Howell.
Precellence
(Pre*cel"lence Pre*cel"len*cy) n. [L. praecellentia, from praecellens, p. pr. of praecellere
to excel, surpass: cf. OF. precellence.] Excellence; superiority. [Obs.] Sheldon.
Precellent
(Pre*cel"lent) a. [L. praecellens, p. pr.] Excellent; surpassing. [Obs.] Holland.
Precentor
(Pre*cen"tor) n. [L. praecentor, fr. praecinere to sing before; prae before + canere to sing.
See Chant.] A leader of a choir; a directing singer. Specifically: (a) The leader of the choir in a cathedral; —
called also the chanter or master of the choir. Hook. (b) The leader of the congregational singing in
Scottish and other churches.
Precentorship
(Pre*cen"tor*ship), n. The office of a precentor.
Precept
(Pre"cept) n. [L. praeceptum, from praecipere to take beforehand, to instruct, teach; prae
before + capere to take: cf. F. précepte. See Pre-, and Capacious.]
1. Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command
respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a rule.
For precept must be upon precept.
Isa. xxviii. 10.
No arts are without their precepts.
Dryden.
