[f. L. antecēdentia (see next), on analogy of sbs. in -ENCE through Fr. (mod.Fr. antécédence is a neologism, Littré).]

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  1.  The action or fact of going before, precedence, priority: a. in time.

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1677.  Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. iii. 77. A pre-existence of the simple Bodies … and an antecedence of their Constitution.

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1830.  Lyell, Princ. Geol. (1875), I. I. x. 195. The Antecedence of a colder climate.

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1871.  Farrar, Witn. Hist., iv. 134. Not that we claim a mere antecedence and originality for the separate precepts of Christianity.

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  b.  in a causal relation.

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1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., I. xii. 52. Man … remembreth in them Antecedence and Consequence.

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1830.  Sir J. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., 151. Invariable antecedence of the cause and consequence of the effect.

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  † 2.  That which goes before or precedes: a. An antecedent, a premiss. (Cf. antecedens in ANTECEDENT 1 b.)

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1535.  Joye, Apol. Tindale, 5. His antecedence may be true and consequence false.

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  b.  The preceding part.

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1593.  Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 7. The rest of the antecedence of the day worne out in disputations.

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  3.  Astr. A motion from a later to an earlier sign of the Zodiac, or from east to west; retrograde motion; also a position more to the west.

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1669.  Flamstead, in Phil. Trans., IV. 1109. Therefore she [the Moon] is in Antecedence of the Star 15 m. 25 sec.

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1740.  Winthrop, ibid., XLII. 575. Mercury was in Antecedence of the Sun 3′ 57″.

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1797.  Encycl. Brit. (Astronomy), II. 508/1. A motion of the heavens in the order of the signs … is said to be a motion in consequence; and such are the true motions of all the planets; tho’ their apparent motions are sometimes contrary, and then they are said to move in antecedence.

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