Synonyms: antecedent
Definition: the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun
Similar words: referent
Definition: something referred to; the object of a reference
Synonyms: antecedent
Definition: a preceding occurrence or cause or event
Similar words: cause
Definition: events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
Usage: they are trying to determine the cause of the crash
Synonyms: ancestor, antecedent, ascendant, ascendent, root
Definition: someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
Similar words: relation, relative
Definition: a person related by blood or marriage
Usage: police are searching for relatives of the deceased; he has distant relations back in New Jersey
Synonyms: antecedent, forerunner
Definition: anything that precedes something similar in time
Usage: phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience
Similar words: temporal relation
Definition: a relation involving time
Synonyms: antecedent
Definition: preceding in time or order
Similar words: anterior, prior
Definition: earlier in time
Similar words: prevenient, anticipatory
Definition: in anticipation
Similar words: pre-existent, pre-existing, preexistent, preexisting
Definition: existing previously or before something
Usage: variations on pre-existent musical themes