Antecedent (noun)
an-tee-see-dent
A thing that existed before or logically precedes another.
Late Middle English from Old French or from Latin antecedent- ‘going before’, from antecedere, from ante ‘before’ + cedere ‘go’.
Example sentences
“‘There are literary and historical antecedents to this book, too.’”
Praetorian (adj) (noun) pri-taw-ree-un of or relating to a praetor (a magistrate in the Roman republic). a soldier of the Praetorian Guard (Roman imperial army) First recorded in 1375–1425; late…