Webster's English Dictionary

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precedent

1. pre.ce.dent \pri-'se-d-*nt, 'pres-*d-*nt\ aj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L 
   praecedent-, praecedens, prp. of praecedereX : prior in time, order, 
   arrangement, or significance 
2. prec.e.dent \'pres-*d-*nt\ n 1: an earlier occurrence of something 
   similar  2a: something done or said that may serve as an example or rule to 
   authoriz e or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind 2b: 
   the convention established by such a precedent or by long practice