Middle English Dictionary Entry
precedent adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | precedent adj. Also precident, presedent; pl. precedent(z. |
| Etymology | OF & L praecēdens, -entis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Preceding in time, previous, former; (b) appearing previously in a document; preceding in order; (c) as adv.: previously, beforehand.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.32.] 93a : Loke how many houres thilke coniunccion is fro the mydday of the day precedent.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.38/31 : Lette not vs be vnkynde to the precedent meritis of oure former.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.377 : The Baillies..shulle..putt yn execucyon alle ordinaunces and actes made at this present yeld and at other yeldes precedentz.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.57a : It is enacte..that the same Maire..yeld accompte..in the fourme ensuyng..to begyn and finish, in every iid.yere of the same yeres, the same accompt for the first yere precedent.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.105 : What moone is fulle afore the equinoccialle, as þe xiiijthe, þe xvthe, or xvjthe, and so of oþer or moore after that, hit pertenethe to the laste parte of the yere precedent [Trev.: þat is a passed; L præcedentis].
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)30/20 : God hath yeve the so grete an vnderstandyng..and specially by my precedent doctryne that Y gaf you be-fore this, that by thy-self thow shalt reprove..all that thou desirest.
b
- (1418) Proc.Privy C.2.354 : Wheþer þe King may..werreie wiþ þe Douphin..is contened in þe next precedent two articles.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)39/4 : Dyvide that 10 in 2, 5 is, and sette a-side that one, and adde that other to the next figure precedent.
- (1459) Paston (Gairdner)3.150 : All othir lorshepis..except the seyd manerez..in the article next presedent specified, shull be sold be the seyd John Paston.
c
- a1500 *Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)596 : Ther to my legat I comaunded that, and whiche precident I proposed and bifore sette.