Etymologically
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antecedo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [an.tɛˈkeː.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [an.teˈt͡ʃɛː.do][1]

Forms

antecēdō (present infinitive antecēdere, perfect active antecessī, supine antecessum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from ante- “before” and cēdō “to go”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of surpassing in quality.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to go before, precede, as Cicero's lictōrēs antecēdēbant “the lictors walked in front”, and to arrive first; in Pliny the Elder it meant to lie in front.[2][5] In Cicero aetāte antecēdere meant to be older, and in Seneca it meant to come earlier in time and to forestall.[2] In Cicero it meant to be larger, and in Plautus to surpass, excel.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to go ahead, go before, surpass.[6] It survives in Italian antecedere and Spanish anteceder, and gave English antecede in the early 15th century; its participle antecēdēns gave English antecedent in the late 14th century, as a term of grammar and logic.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of surpassing.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of going before.[2][4]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of time.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English antecedent is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To go before, precede; to arrive first.[2]
  2. To lie in front.[2]
  3. To come earlier; to be older; to forestall.[2]
  4. To surpass, excel.[2]

Word family

  • antecessor
  • antecessiō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson