precedent English · revision 39631

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400, G. Chaucer, Treatise on the Astrolabe|origins=la cēdō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpɹɛs.ɪ.dənt/, /pɹɪˈsiː.dənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is partly [[bor|frm|precedent|t=earlier in time]] (modern [[m|fr|précédent]]), recorded in Old French from the 13th century,^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and partly a direct borrowing of [[la|praecēdēns|t=going before, foregoing]], the present participle of [[m|la|praecēdō|t=to go before]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) the verb behind [[precede]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2024) That verb is formed of [[m|la|prae-|t=before]] and [[m|la|cēdō|t=to go]].^(AHD 2024)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) The noun was formed in English from the adjective,^(OED 2026)^(Dictionary.com 2016)^(Etymonline) though Merriam-Webster derives it from the Middle French noun.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adjective, earlier in time, previous: c. 1400, in Chaucer's ''Treatise on the Astrolabe''.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The noun, a previous instance taken as an example or rule for similar cases, follows in 1427, in the ''Rolls of Parliament'', spelt ''precydente''.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun began in parliamentary and administrative use, where a ''precedent'' was a recorded earlier case or, concretely, a document recording past proceedings (1450–1650).^(OED 2026) Its legal sense, a judicial decision that serves as an authority for later cases, is dated from 1523,^(OED 2026) and the collective use, precedents taken together as a system, from 1593.^(OED 2026) Other early senses died out: a sign or token (1518–93), an example to be copied, a model (1535–1754), and an original from which a copy is made, in Shakespeare's ''Richard III''.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) From 1599 a precedent could be anything that goes before another, a forerunner.^(OED 2026) Johnson (1755) gave the adjective as "former; going before", with quotations from Shakespeare.^(Johnson 1755) The adjective is now rare,^(SOED 2002) and the verb, recorded from 1614, survives mainly in the participle [[m|en|precedented]].^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – adjective, earlier in time.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1418 – adjective, coming before in order.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1427 – noun, an earlier instance taken as a rule.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1450 – a document recording past proceedings (obsolete by 1650).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1523 – (law) a decision serving as authority for later cases.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1535 – a model to be followed (obsolete by 1754).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1593 – precedents collectively.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1599 – a forerunner.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1614 – verb, to justify by a precedent.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An earlier event or action that is taken as an [[example]] or guide for later similar cases: ''The ruling set a precedent for other cities.''^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (law) A judicial [[decision]] that serves as an [[authority]] for deciding later cases; such decisions collectively.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Established custom or practice: ''They broke with precedent by holding the meeting abroad.''^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # (formal or rare) Going before in time or order; [[preceding]].^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[precedency]]

+ * [[precedential]]

+ * [[unprecedented]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[precede]]

+ * [[precedence]]

+ * [[antecedent]]

+ * [[cede]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The noun is stressed on the first syllable; the adjective may also be stressed on the second.^(Collins 2023) Dictionary.com notes that ''precedents'' is easily confused with ''precedence'' and ''presidents''.^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}