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Webster 1913 Edition


Predecessor

Predˊe-ces′sor

(?; 277)
,
Noun.
[L.
praedecessor
;
prae
before +
decessor
one who withdraws from the province he has governed, a retiring officer (with reference to his successor), a predecessor, fr.
decedere
: cf. F.
prédécesseur
. See
Decease
.]
One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
A prince who was as watchful as his
predecessor
had been over the interests of the state.
Prescott.

Webster 1828 Edition


Predecessor

PREDECES'SOR

,
Noun.
[L. proe and decedo, to depart.] A person who has preceded another in the same office. The king, the president, the judge, or the magistrate, follows the steps of his predecessor, or he does not imitate the example of his predecessors. It is distinguished from ancestor, who is of the same blood; but it may perhaps be sometimes used for it.

Definition 2024


predecessor

predecessor

English

Alternative forms

Noun

predecessor (plural predecessors)

  1. One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
  2. A model or type of machinery or device which precedes the current one. Usually used to describe an earlier, outdated model.
    The steam engine was the predecessor of diesel and electric locomotives.
  3. (mathematics) A vertex having a directed path to another vertex

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Anagrams

References

  1. Funk, W. J., Word origins and their romantic stories, New York, Wilfred Funk, Inc.

Catalan

Noun

predecessor m (plural predecessors)

  1. primary

Portuguese

Noun

predecessor m (plural predecessores, feminine predecessora, feminine plural predecessoras)

  1. predecessor (something or someone who precedes)

Synonyms

Adjective

predecessor m (feminine singular predecessora, masculine plural predecessores, feminine plural predecessoras, comparable)

  1. preceding (occurring before or in front of something else)

Synonyms