antecedent
柯林斯词典
1. N-COUNT An antecedent of something happened or existed before it and was similar to it in some way. 先例[正式] [usu with supp]
We shall first look briefly at the historical antecedents of this theory. 我們首先簡要地廻顧一下該理論歷史上的先例。
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antecedent /ˌæntɪˈsiːdənt/ (antecedents)
剑桥词典
- formal
someone or something existing or happening before, especially as the cause or origin of something existing or happening later
（尤指作爲後來存在或發生之事的起因或起源的）前事，前情，先例；祖先
Charles Babbage's mechanical calculating engines were the antecedents of the modern computer . 查爾斯•巴貝奇的機械計算機是現代計算機的前身。
Many people feel a great curiosity to find out about their antecedents. 很多人對於他們的祖先充滿了好奇，很想探究一番。
language specialized
a word or phrase that a pronoun refers back to
先行詞，前述詞
In the sentence "He picked a book off the shelf and handed it to Sally", "book " is the antecedent of "it". 在句子 He picked a book off the shelf and handed it to Sally 中，book 是 it 的先行詞。 返回 antecedent