Etymology

precedent

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Today it means: An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future. Full definition →

First used 14th c.Latin praecēdēns
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The story

  1. Latin · derived frompraecēdēns
  2. English todayprecedent

From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 14th c. Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.
  • from 15th c. Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.