precede

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pre=cede

CIDE DICTIONARY

precede, v. t. [L. praecedere, praecessum; prae before + cedere to go, to be in motion: cf. F. préceder. See Pre-, and Cede.].

•  To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
•  To go before in place, rank, or importance.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; -- used with by or with before the instrumental object.  [1913 Webster]

  "It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

precede, v.tr.
1 a come or go before in time, order, importance, etc. (preceding generations; the preceding paragraph; sons of barons precede baronets). b walk etc. in front of (preceded by our guide).
2 (foll. by by) cause to be preceded (must precede this measure by milder ones).

Etymology

OF preceder f. L praecedere (as PRAE-, cedere cess- go)

THESAURUS

precede

announce, antecede, antedate, anticipate, be before, be early, be the bellwether, beacon, blaze the trail, break ground, break the ice, break the trail, come before, come first, create, forerun, foreshadow, front, get ahead of, get before, go ahead of, go before, go in advance, guide, harbinger, have priority, have the start, head, head the line, head the table, head up, herald, initiate, introduce, invent, kick off, lap, lead, lead off, lead the dance, lead the way, light the way, originate, outrank, outstrip, pace, pioneer, play first fiddle, precurse, predate, preexist, presage, proclaim, rank, rank first, rank out, rate, set the pace, spearhead, stand first, star, take precedence, take the initiative, take the lead, take the plunge, usher, usher in

ROGET THESAURUS

precede

Superiority

VB be superior, exceed, excel, transcend, outdo, outbalance, outweigh, outrank, outrival, out-Herod, pass, surpass, get ahead of, over-top, override, overpass, overbalance, overweigh, overmatch, top, o'ertop, cap, beat, cut out, beat hollow, outstrip, eclipse, throw into the shade, take the shine out of, outshine, put one's nose out of joint, have the upper hand, have the whip hand of, have the advantage, turn the scale, kick the beam, play first fiddle, preponderate, predominate, prevail, precede, take precedence, come first, come to a head, culminate, beat all others, bear the palm, break the record, take the cake, become larger, render larger.

Precedence

VB precede, come before, come first, head, lead, take the lead, lead the way, lead the dance, be in the vanguard, introduce, usher in, have the pas, set the fashion, open the ball, take precedence, have precedence, have the start, place before, prefix, premise, prelude, preface.

Priority

VB precede, come before, forerun, go before, preexist, dawn, presage, herald, usher in, be beforehand, steal a march upon, anticipate, forestall, have the start, gain the start.

Precession

VB go before, go ahead, go in the van, go in advance, precede, forerun, usher in, introduce, herald, head, take the lead, lead the way, lead the dance, get the start, have the start, steal a march, get before, get ahead, get in front of, outstrip, take precedence.