Webster's English Dictionary

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preceding

pre.ced.ing \pri-'se-d-in\ aj : that precedes : going before PRIOR, FORMER, 
   ANTERIOR mean being before. PRECEDING usu. implies being immediately before 
   in time or in place; ANTECEDENT applies to order in time and may suggest a 
   causal relation; PREVIOUS and PRIOR imply existing or occurring earlier, 
   but PRIOR often adds an implication of greater importance; FORMER implies 
   always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter; 
   ANTERIOR applies to position before or ahead of usu. in space, sometimes in 
   time or order SYN syn PRECEDING, ANTECEDENT, FOREGOING, PREVIOUS,