▪ I. precedent, n.
(ˈprɛsɪdənt)
Forms: α. 5 precident, -cydent, 5– precedent (5 -e). β. 5–6 prese-, presy-, 7 presa-, 5–8 president (5–6 -e).
[a. F. précédent, subst. use of the adj.: see next. The β forms arose in Eng. through practical identity of pronunciation, and consequent confusion, with president.]
1. A thing or person that precedes or goes before another. † a. That which has been mentioned just before. Usually in pl.: the preceding or foregoing facts, statements, etc. Obs.
| 1433 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 425/1 My Lord of Bedford..nought havyng his rewarde to y⊇ said precedents offerd and agreed hym to serve y⊇ Kyng. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 397 Whan all these presedentes were sene by y⊇ Scottes, a day was assygned of metynge at Norham. c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden) 237 A fourth impediment, and worse than the precedents. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 105, I should here end the discourse of this beast, after the method already observed in the precedents. |
b. That which precedes in time; something occurring before; an antecedent. ? Obs.
In first two quots. applied to a previous document, etc. serving as a guide in subsequent cases (leading to sense 2).
| 1450 Rolls of Parlt. V. 191/1 Any Graunt made by us..of Viewe of Frauncplegge..which we graunted to hym upon certeyn precedentez allowed in Ayer to his Aunceterz of longe time paste. 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. 12 But y⊇ diuersytie of these tenures..can nat be knowen but by the lordes euydence, court rolles, rentayles, and suche other presydentes. 1691 Beverley Mem. Kingd. Christ 10 The mention of the Three days, and a Half as the most Immediate Precedent of their Rising. 1788 T. Taylor Proclus' Comm. I. 67 Things subsequent are always annexed to their precedents. |
† c. One who goes or moves before or in advance of another; a forerunner. Obs.
| 1603 Owen Pembrokeshire (1892) 274 Some gaine in running vpon his precedentes, some forced to come behinde those that were once foremost. 1610 Histrio-m. vi. 143 Ruine and Warre, the precedents of Wrath,..Have rid their circuit through this fertile soyle. |
† d. The original from which a copy is made. Obs.
| 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iii. vi. 7 Here is the Indictment of the good Lord Hastings,..Eleuen houres I haue spent to write it ouer..The Precedent was full as long a doing. 1595 ― John v. ii. 3 My Lord Melloone, let this be coppied out, And keepe it safe for our remembrance: [Giues Meloone the Treaty.] Returne the president to these Lords againe. |
† e. A sign, token, earnest, indication. Obs.
| 1581 Rich Farewell (Shaks. Soc.) 183 He had given..to the Kyng himself, as a president of his good will, a riche jewell. 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 26 With this she ceazeth on his sweating palme, The president of pith and liuelyhood. |
2. a. A previous instance or case which is or may be taken as an example or rule for subsequent cases, or by which some similar act or circumstance may be supported or justified. (The prevailing sense.)
| α 1427 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 326/2 My Lordes your Uncles [etc.]..serched precydentes of the governaill of ye land in tyme and cas semblable. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxv. §21 That verie precedent it selfe which they propose may bee best followed. 1627–77 Feltham Resolves i. xx. 37 St. Paul is Precedent for it. 1666–7 Pepys Diary 9 Jan., The Lords did argue, that it was an ill precedent, and that which will ever hereafter be used. 1742 Young Nt. Th. i. 392 Be wise to-day; 'tis madness to defer; Next day the fatal precedent will plead. 1787 Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 141 They consider the North American revolution a precedent for theirs. 1832 Tennyson ‘You ask me why’, etc. 12 A land..Where Freedom broadens slowly down From precedent to precedent. 1888 F. Hume Mme. Midas i. i, He promptly followed the precedent set by Oxford. |
| β c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. x. (1885) 134 Soche was þe sellynge off Chirke and Chirkes landes, weroff neuer manne see a president. 1537 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 102 The president were to yvel to be admytted. 1643 Milton Soveraigne Salve 4 By such a provision a dangerous president is introduced. 1663 Chas. II in Julia Cartwright Henrietta of Orleans (1894) 151 Considering all former presadents, who are cleerly on our side. 1733 Neal Hist. Purit. II. 445 His Majesty's not interposing..was afterwards made use of as a president. |
b. Law. A previous judicial decision, method of proceeding, or draft of a document, which serves as an authoritative rule or pattern in similar or analogous cases.
| α 1689 Tryal Bps. 34 Things done in particular cases in favour are not Precedents. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. Introd. iii. 69 It is an established rule to abide by former precedents, when the same points come again in litigation. 1772 Junius Lett. Ded. Eng. Nat. 3 One precedent creates another.—They soon accumulate, and constitute law. 1874 Green Short Hist. viii. §5. 502 The legal research of Noy..found precedents among the records in the Tower. |
| β 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. 20 The lordes court rolles, the whiche is a regester to the lorde to knowe his presydentes, customes, and seruyces. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 220 There is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established: 'Twill be recorded for a President. 1642 Chas. I Answ. to Printed Bk. 25 Upon pretence of Authority of Book⁓cases, and Presidents. 1718 S. Sewall Diary 5 Feb., Look'd [out] the presidents which made it good. |
c. In collective or generalized sense (without article or pl.). without precedent, unprecedented.
| 1622 Donne Serm. (ed. Alford) VI. 154 To become a precedent, govern thyself by precedent first. 1671 Salmon Syn. Med. Introd. 4 We will not much praise it,..for it was wrot without President. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 28 ¶7 Each comforts himself that his faults are not without precedent. 1769 Junius Lett. v. (1797) I. 44 Your conduct was not justified by precedent. 1858 Froude Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 362 The conservative English instinct, which..ever preferred the authority of precedent to any other guide. |
† 3. transf. A written or printed record of some past proceeding or proceedings, serving as a guide or rule for subsequent cases. Obs.
| 1543 (title) A Boke of Presidentes exactly written in maner of a Register. 1625 B. Jonson Staple of N. i. v, Of all which seuerall [news] The Day-bookes, Characters, Precedents are kept. 1650 Weldon Crt. Jas. I (1651) 11 He caused a whole cartload of Parliament Presidents (that spake the Subjects Liberty) to be burnt. |
† 4. a. An example that is, or is intended or worthy to be, followed or copied; a pattern, model, exemplar. Obs. (exc. as in 2).
| 1549 Chaloner Erasm. on Folly P ij b, Through the abhominable president of theyr life they dooe eftsoones crucifie hym. 1565 in Strype Ann. Ref. (1709) I. xlvi. 472 [Thus..did the Admonition to the Parliament charge her Chapel, viz.] as the pattern and precedent to the people of all superstition. 1607 Tourneur Rev. Trag. i. iv, Piero. That vertuous Lady! L. Ant. Precedent for wives! 1675 Traherne Chr. Ethics 299 We produce Eve only for a president. |
† b. An example, instance, illustration, specimen.
| c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden) 217 But the most notable president of this kind of chastity is the virginity of our blessed lady..married to good Joseph. 1600 Holland Livy xxviii. xliv. 704 Can there bee a president [L. exemplum] found more pregnant..to prove and enforce this point, than Anniball himselfe? 1631 R. Norwood Trigonometrie Ep. to Rdr., Some..who, when these tables were printing and almost finished, came to the printing house and not only tooke a sufficient view of them there, but carried away a president without the printer's leave. 1668 Rolle Abridgm. i. 49, I will make thee an example and president for a perjured Rogue. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth ii. 103 There are so many Presidents on Record in Holy Writ of this way of proceeding, that no one can be well ignorant of them. |
5. attrib. and Comb., as precedent book, precedent-setting, precedent-worshipping adjs.
| 1591 Nashe Introd. Sidney's Astr. & Stella, Although it be..the president bookes of such as cannot see without another man's spectacles. 1853 Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 374 If we can prove this point, we prove everything with precedent-worshipping John Bull. 1967 Economist 14 Oct. 160/3 In Boston an outspoken lawyer, in a precedent-setting challenge to the constitutionality of the Massachusetts laws against marijuana, is asking whether all the fuss over pot is really worth it. 1977 New Yorker 19 Sept. 50/2 Some people feel that the conductor was challenging the soloist and that she more than met the challenge, with the result that the last movement is taken at a precedent-setting speed. |
▪ II. precedent, a. Now rare: largely replaced by preceding.
(prɪˈsiːdənt)
Forms: α. 4– precedent, (5 ˈprecydent, 6 preˈceedent, 7 præcedent). β. 5–6 ˈpresedent, 6 ˈpresident, 7 ˈpresedentt.
[a. F. précédent (13–14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. præcēdens, -entem, pres. pple. of præcēdĕre to precede. Originally stressed preceˈdent, ˈprecedent like the n.; but in 16th c. conformed to preˈcede, preˈcedence, preˈceding.
(Pegge Anecd. 283 remarks on precedent having one sound when a n., another sound when an adj.)]
1. Preceding in time; existing or occurring before something expressed or implied; previous, former, antecedent: = preceding b.
| c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §32 Fro the Midday of the day precedent. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 412/2 Presedent, presidens [P. precedens]. 1472–3 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 57/1 The same accompt for the first yere precedent. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxvii. (Percy Soc.) 123 The desteny is a thyng accydent,..Tyll it be done it is ay precedent. c 1585 Faire Em i. 123 As if we were in our precedent way. 1598 R. Barckley Felic. Man (1631) 473 There are two sorts of ends, some are precedent, some subsequent. 1616 Sir T. Button in Lismore Papers Ser. ii. (1887) II. 65, I shalbe glad..to be your tenant..and give as muche rentt..as the presedentt tenant did. a 1644 Quarles Sol. Recant. ch. i, There's nothing modern times can own, The which precedent Ages have not known. a 1674 Clarendon Surv. Leviath. (1676) 88 For there could be no Law precedent to that resignation of themselves. 16.. Songs Costume (Percy Soc.) 157 Our men were in precedent dayes To manly actions bent. 1787 Minor 201 Mr. Plodder having been busied the precedent night. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India III. vi. i. 21 The operation of control is subsequent, not precedent. 1850 Blackie æschylus I. 51 A host of jarring rumours..Each fresh recital with a murkier hue Than its precedent. |
2. Preceding in order or succession; coming or placed before; esp. the precedent, that coming immediately before, the foregoing: = preceding a.
| 1483 Caxton Cato E iij b, To flee the false opynyons and errours of thauncient beforesayd in the iiii precedent commaundementes. 1484 ― Fables of æsop v. viii, The Auctor of this booke reherceth suche another Fable..as the precydent. 1561 Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 15 b, As I have taught in the precedent chapter. 1660 Barrow Euclid Pref. (1714) 2 The six precedent and the two subsequent [Books]. 1741 T. Robinson Gavelkind v. 77 The Generality of the Precedent Words. 1837 Whittock, etc. Bk. Trades (1842) 389 Certain provincialisms..chiefly evinced..in the discord of precedent, antecedent, and relative pronouns. |
b. Mentioned or spoken of just before; immediately aforesaid; preceding.
| 1530 Palsgr. 987 The whiche may be turned lyke the verbe precedent. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. iii. 63 This secrete with the preceedent I had of a Dutch mountbanke. 1597 Gerarde Herbal i. vii. §1. 8 The great Foxe-taile grasse..is nothing rough in handling like the precedent. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. Ded. to King §13 Another defect which I note, ascendeth a little higher than the precedent. 1705 tr. Bosman's Guinea 269 A Bird not above half so big as the precedent. |
3. Preceding in rank or estimation; having or taking precedence.
| 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 340 The one precedent in age and nobilitie, the other a Leader in Warre, and Lawgiuer in Peace. 1858 Bushnell Nat. & Supernat. x. (1864) 289 Laying his hand upon all the dearest and most intimate affections of life and demanding a precedent love. |
▪ III. precedent, v.
(ˈprɛsɪdənt)
[f. precedent n.]
trans. To furnish with a precedent; to be a precedent for; to support or justify by a precedent. Now only in pa. pple.: see also precedented.
| 1614 W. B. Philosopher's Banquet (ed. 2) 28 The examples of diuers..kings..do president vs in these carriages. 1652–62 Heylin Cosmogr. iv. (1682) 18 The Ottoman Turks were precedented by those of Egypt. 1716 M. Davies Athen. Brit. III. 42 Otherwise the Example might be of dangerous consequence, tho' often precedented by the Popish Monks and Jesuits in their Editions. |
† b. refl. To guide or support oneself by a precedent; to follow as a precedent. Obs.
| 1636 Abp. Williams Holy Table (1637) 35 Now we are no longer to president our selves, in this kind, by the Chappell, but by the Liturgie of Queen Elisabeth. 1641 Burges Serm. 5 Nov. 63 This is a memorable Instance; and I would to God you would president your selves by it. |
Hence ˈprecedenting ppl. a., setting or serving as a precedent.
| a 1693 Urquhart's Rabelais iii. xxxviii. 319 Prototypal and precedenting fool. |
▪ IV. precedent
obs. Sc. form of president.