antecedent
Pronunciation:
/ˌantɪˈsiːdənt/noun
Definitions
Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.
An ancestor.
(grammar) A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun.
The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p \rightarrow q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent.
adjective
Definitions
Earlier, either in time or in order.
Example: an antecedent cause
Presumptive.
Example: an antecedent improbability