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predecessor
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun predecessor has 2 senses
- predecessor(n = noun.person) Array - one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office); Array is a kind of forerunner, precursor
- predecessor(n = noun.communication) forerunner, harbinger, herald, precursor - something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone; Array is a kind of indicant, indication
has particulars: forefather
Derived form verb precede3
CIDE DICTIONARY
predecessor, n. [L. praedecessor; prae before + decessor one who withdraws from the province he has governed, a retiring officer (with reference to his successor), a predecessor, fr. decedere: cf. F. prédécesseur. See Decease.].
One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position. [1913 Webster]
"A prince who was as watchful as his predecessor had been over the interests of the state."
[1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
predecessor, n.
1 a former holder of an office or position with respect to a later holder (my immediate predecessor).
2 an ancestor.
3 a thing to which another has succeeded (the new plan will share the fate of its predecessor).
1 a former holder of an office or position with respect to a later holder (my immediate predecessor).
2 an ancestor.
3 a thing to which another has succeeded (the new plan will share the fate of its predecessor).
Etymology
ME f. OF predecesseur f. LL praedecessor (as PRAE-, decessor retiring officer, as DECEASE)
THESAURUS
predecessor
ancestor, ancestors, announcer, antecedent, antecedents, ascendants, avant-garde, bellwether, buccinator, bushwhacker, elders, explorer, fathers, forebear, forebears, forefather, forefathers, foregoer, forerunner, front runner, frontiersman, fugleman, grandfathers, grandparents, groundbreaker, guide, harbinger, herald, innovator, lead runner, leader, messenger, pathfinder, patriarchs, pioneer, point, precedent, precursor, predecessor, predecessors, progenitors, prototype, scout, stormy petrel, trailblazer, trailbreaker, vanguard, vaunt-courier, voortrekkerROGET THESAURUS
predecessor
Precursor
N precursor, antecedent, precedent, predecessor, forerunner, vancourier, avant-coureur, pioneer, prodrome, prodromos, prodromus, outrider, leader, bellwether, herald, harbinger, foreboding, dawn, avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare, forelooper, foreloper, stalking-horse, voorlooper, voortrekker, prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos, protasis, proemium, prolusion, proem, prolepsis, prolegomena, prefix, introduction, heading, frontispiece, groundwork, preparation, overture, exordium, symphony, premises, prefigurement, omen, precursory, prelusive, prelusory, preludious, proemial, introductory, prefatory, prodromous, inaugural, preliminary, precedent, a precedent embalms a principle.
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