precedent
UK[ˈpres.ɪ.dənt]US[ˈpres.ə.dənt]
n
an official action or decision that has happened in the past and that is used as an example or rule to be followed in a similar situation later
n
something of the same type that has happened or existed before
Morpheme Breakdown
pre
ced
ent
pre
before
ced
go
ent
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'precedent' originates from the latin verb 'praecedere', meaning 'to go before'. this verb is a compound of 'prae-' (before) and 'cedere' (to go). it entered middle english via old french, where it functioned as an adjective meaning 'preceding'. the modern noun sense, denoting a prior instance serving as an authoritative example, developed in legal contexts. the core logic of the word is built on the literal image of one event 'going before' another, thereby establishing a path or rule for subsequent events to follow. this concrete notion of temporal and procedural priority evolved into the abstract legal and general principle it represents today.
Analysis
Structure: pre (before) + ced (go) + ent (noun suffix)
- pre: from latin 'prae-', meaning 'before'. a prefix indicating priority in time, place, or order.
- ced: from latin 'cedere', meaning 'to go, proceed, yield'. a root indicating movement.
- ent: from latin '-ent-', a present participial suffix forming agent nouns, here forming a noun meaning 'a thing that...'.
Examples
the court's ruling set a legal precedent for future cases of this kind.
there is no precedent for such a drastic action within our company's history.
she broke with precedent by announcing the decision herself.