[ad. L. antecēdentia, f. antecēdent-em: see ANTECEDENT a.]

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  1.  The quality or condition of being antecedent, priority, precedence.

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1598.  Florio, Antecedentia, antecedencie, precedencie, superioritie.

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a. 1617.  Bayne, Ephes. (1866), 32. An antecedency of faith before the act of electing.

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1874.  Whitney, Orient. Ling. Studies, 245. Those who believe in the antecedency of idens to words.

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  † 2.  An antecedent condition or state of things; in pl. = ANTECEDENTS. Obs.

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1682.  Sir T. Browne, Chr. Morals, 55. Many things happen, not likely to ensue from any promises of antecedencies.

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1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), IV. iv. 12. Most of thy reflections … are fitter to come in as after-reflections than as antecedencies.

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  † 3.  Movement back to a former position. Obs.

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1656.  Hardy, 1 John (1865), xiv. 86/1. Some sudden emanations of the will as regenerate, antecedencies to the conflicts and lustings of the will as corrupt.

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