'Precedent' definitions:
Definition of 'precedent'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Preceding in time, order, or significance
noun
An example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time [syn: precedent, case in point]
noun
(civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions [syn: case law, precedent, common law]
noun
A system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws; "common law originated in the unwritten laws of England and was later applied in the United States" [syn: common law, case law, precedent]
noun
A subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time)
Definition of 'Precedent'
From: GCIDE
- Precedent \Pre*ced"ent\, a. [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf. F. pr['e]c['e]dent. See Precede.] Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services. --Shak. "A precedent injury." --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Precedent'
From: GCIDE
- Precedent \Prec"e*dent\, n.
- 1. Something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an authoritative example. [1913 Webster]
- Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- 3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 4. (Law) A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases. --Wharton. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Example; antecedent.
- Usage: Precedent, Example. An example in a similar case which may serve as a rule or guide, but has no authority out of itself. A precedent is something which comes down to us from the past with the sanction of usage and of common consent. We quote examples in literature, and precedents in law. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'precedent'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- action,
- ancestor,
- announcer,
- antecedent,
- anterior,
- antetype,
- antitype,
- archetype,
- avant-garde,
- award,
- bellwether,
- biotype,
- buccinator,
- bushwhacker,
- classic example,
- condemnation,
- consideration,
- criterion,
- decision,
- decree,
- deliverance,
- determination,
- diagnosis,
- dictum,
- doom,
- epitome,
- example,
- exemplar,
- explorer,
- finding,
- forebear,
- foregoer,
- foregoing,
- forerunner,
- former,
- front runner,
- frontiersman,
- fugleman,
- fugler,
- genotype,
- groundbreaker,
- guide,
- harbinger,
- herald,
- imitatee,
- innovator,
- lead,
- lead runner,
- leader,
- messenger,
- mirror,
- model,
- order,
- original,
- paradigm,
- past,
- pathfinder,
- pattern,
- pioneer,
- point,
- precursor,
- predecessor,
- premise,
- previous,
- prior,
- prognosis,
- pronouncement,
- prototype,
- representative,
- resolution,
- rule,
- ruling,
- scout,
- sentence,
- standard,
- stormy petrel,
- trailblazer,
- trailbreaker,
- type,
- type species,
- type specimen,
- urtext,
- vanguard,
- vaunt-courier,
- verdict,
- voortrekker,
- yardstick