precedent

Etymology

From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.

noun

1. An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
2. (law) A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
3. An established habit or custom.
4. (obsolete, with definite article) The aforementioned (thing).
   A third argument may be derived from the precedent. , New York 2001, p.74
5. The previous version.
6. (obsolete) A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.

adj

1. Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.
2. (now rare) Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.

verb

1. (transitive, law) To provide precedents for.
2. (transitive, law) To be a precedent for.