Antecedent

an-te-sēd′ent, adj. going before in time: prior.— n. that which precedes in time: ( gram. ) the noun or pronoun to which a relative pronoun refers: ( logic ) a statement or proposition from which another is logically deduced: ( math. ) the antecedent of a ratio is the first of two terms which compose the ratio—the first and third in a series of four proportionals: ( pl. ) previous principles, conduct, history, .— n. Anteced′ence .— adv. Anteced′ently . [L. antecedent-em ; ante , before, cedĕre , ce um , to go.]