名詞 antecedent:

1. someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
   同義詞：ancestor, ascendant, ascendent, root
2. a preceding occurrence or cause or event
3. anything that precedes something similar in time
   同義詞：forerunner
4. the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun

形容詞 antecedent:

1. preceding in time or order
   同義詞：preceding

an.te.ce.dent

adj.（形容詞）
Going before; preceding.
先前的；前面的
n.（名詞）
One that precedes another.
前項：排在某一個前面的

A preceding occurrence, cause, or event.See Synonyms at cause
先前的情況：前面的起因、理由或事情參見 cause
antecedents The important events and occurrences in one`s early life.
antecedents 早先的：某人早期生活中的重要事情及事件
antecedents One`s ancestors.
antecedents 祖先
Grammar The word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers.
【語法】 先行詞：代名詞所指代的詞，短語或句子
Mathematics The first term of a ratio.
【數(shù)學】 比例前項
Logic The conditional member of a hypothetical proposition.
【邏輯學】 前提，前提條件：假設命題中的條件

【引伸】
an.tece.dently
adv.（副詞）