v. arch.; also 7 anteceed. [ad. L. antecēd-ĕre, f. ante before + cēdĕre to go.]
1. trans. To go before or in front of; to precede, in place, time or rank; to surpass.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., IV. 207. In wealth and nobilitie … [he] anteceded the best in the cittie.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. iii. 82. The Fabrick of the World did not long antecede its Motion.
1822. T. Taylor, Metam. Apuleius, 399. A particular negative antecedes either of the affirmative propositions.
2. intr. To go or come before, to come first.
1628. T. Spencer, Logick, 239. This Axiome … containes nothing that doth antecede, or follow.
1656. Baxter, Ref. Pastor, 100. Three daies prayer for him … should antecede. Ibid. (1690), Kingd. Christ, i. 4. Though the Embrio and Infancy anteceding, it was to be first in Execution.
