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precedent
precedent definition
pre·ced·ent (prē sēd′'nt, pri-; for n. pres′ə dənt)
adjective
that precedes; preceding
Etymology: ME < MFr précédent < L praecedens, prp. of praecedere, to precede
noun precedent prec′·edent
- an act, statement, legal decision, case, etc. that may serve as an example, reason, or justification for a later one
- a practice based upon earlier precedents
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