n. The act of acceding. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act or state of going before in time; precedence. H. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron.) An apparent motion of a planet toward the west; retrogradation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or condition of being antecedent; priority. Fothherby. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. antecedens, -entis, p. pr. of antecedere: cf. F. antécédent. ] 1. Going before in time; prior; anterior; preceding; as, an event antecedent to the Deluge; an antecedent cause. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Presumptive; as, an antecedent improbability. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Prior; previous; foregoing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. antécédent. ] 1. That which goes before in time; that which precedes. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Homeric mythology, as well as the Homeric language, has surely its antecedents. Max Miller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who precedes or goes in front. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

My antecedent, or my gentleman usher. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. The earlier events of one's life; previous principles, conduct, course, history. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

If the troops . . . prove worthy of their antecedents, the victory is surely ours. Gen. G. McClellan. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Gram.) The noun to which a relative refers; as, in the sentence “Solomon was the prince who built the temple, ” prince is the antecedent of who. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Logic) (a) The first or conditional part of a hypothetical proposition; as, If the earth is fixed, the sun must move. (b) The first of the two propositions which constitute an enthymeme or contracted syllogism; as, Every man is mortal; therefore the king must die. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Math.) The first of the two terms of a ratio; the first or third of the four terms of a proportion. In the ratio a:b, a is the antecedent, and b the consequent. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Previously; before in time; at a time preceding; as, antecedently to conversion. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. (Zool.) The Abyssinian or Arabian ibex (Capra Nubiana). It is probably the wild goat of the Bible. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. credentia, fr. L. credens, -entis, p. pr. of credere to trust, believe: cf. OF. credence. See Creed, and cf. Credent, Creance. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Reliance of the mind on evidence of facts derived from other sources than personal knowledge; belief; credit; confidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

To give credence to the Scripture miracles. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

An assertion which might easily find credence. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which gives a claim to credit, belief, or confidence; as, a letter of credence. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eccl.) The small table by the side of the altar or communion table, on which the bread and wine are placed before being consecrated. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A cupboard, sideboard, or cabinet, particularly one intended for the display of rich vessels or plate, and consisting chiefly of open shelves for that purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To give credence to; to believe. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Credenda [ L., fr. credere to believe. ] (Theol.) A thing to be believed; an article of faith; -- distinguished from agendum, a practical duty. [ 1913 Webster ]

The great articles and credenda of Christianity. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ . credens, -entis, p. pr. of credere to trust, believe. See Creed. ] 1. Believing; giving credence; credulous. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If with too credent ear you list songs. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having credit or authority; credible. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For my authority bears of a credent bulk. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. It. credenziale, fr. LL. credentia. See Credence. ] Giving a title or claim to credit or confidence; accrediting. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their credential letters on both sides. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. It. credenziale. ] 1. That which gives a title to credit or confidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. Testimonials showing that a person is entitled to credit, or has right to exercise official power, as the letters given by a government to an ambassador or envoy, or a certificate that one is a duly elected delegate. [ 1913 Webster ]

The committee of estates excepted against the credentials of the English commissioners. Whitelocke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Had they not shown undoubted credentials from the Divine Person who sent them on such a message. Addison.

adj. having an official document certifying fitness for a particular task.
Syn. -- certificated, documented. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. a credence{ 3 }.
Syn. -- credence. [ PJC ]

2. a buffet or sideboard similar to a credence{ 4 }, especially one without legs. MW10 [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A deceased person. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. decedens, p. pr. of decedere. ] Removing; departing. Ash. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The shedding of teeth. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Heb. ēden delight, pleasure; also, a place of pleasure, Eden. ] The garden where Adam and Eve first dwelt; hence, a delightful region or residence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Eden; paradisaic. “Edenic joys.” Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Edenville, N. Y. ] (Min.) A variety of amphibole. See Amphibole. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Admitted to a state of paradisaic happiness. [ R. ] Davies (Wit's Pilgr. ). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Edentate, a. -- n. (Zoöl.) One of the Edentata. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Edentate, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. pl. [ NL., neut. pl. from L. edentatus, p. p. of edentare to render toothless; e out + dens, dentis, tooth. ] (Zoöl.) An order of mammals including the armadillos, sloths, and anteaters; -- called also Bruta. The incisor teeth are rarely developed, and in some groups all the teeth are lacking. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Destitute of teeth; as, an edentate quadruped; an edentate leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the Edentata. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zoöl.) One of the Edentata. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Same as Edentate, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A depriving of teeth. [ R. ] Cockeram. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. edentulus; e out + dens, dentis, tooth. ] Toothless. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. excedens, -entis, p. pr. of excedere. See Exceed, v. t. ] Excess. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. exedent, -entis, p. pr. of exedere. See Exesion. ] Eating out; consuming. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of interceding; intercession; intervention. [ R. ] Bp. Reynolds. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. intercedens, p. pr. of intercedere. ] Passing between; mediating; pleading. [ R. ] -- In`ter*ced"ent*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. (Anat.) Between peduncles; esp., between the peduncles, or crura, of the cerebrum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A region that is related ethnically or historically to one country but is controlled politically by another.
Syn. -- irridenta. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the doctrine that irredenta should be controlled by the country to which they are ethnically or historically related.
Syn. -- irridentism. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. an advocate of irredentism, especially a person in one country who advocates the incorporation of a region in another country related historically to his country.
Syn. -- irridentist. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ n. [ AS. lēden, l&ymacr_;den, language, speech. Cf. Leod. ] Language; speech; voice; cry. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. mis- + credent. Cf. Miscreant. ] A miscreant, or believer in a false religious doctrine. [ Obs. ] Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. phagedaena, Gr. fage`daina, fr. fagei^n to eat. ] (Med.) (a) A canine appetite; bulimia. [ Obs. ] (b) Spreading, obstinate ulceration. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. phagedaenicus, Gr. fagedainiko`s: cf. F. phagédénique. ] (Med.) Of, like, or pertaining to, phagedena; used in the treatment of phagedena; as, a phagedenic ulcer or medicine. -- n. A phagedenic medicine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Med.) Phagedenic. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Cf. F. précédence. See Precede. ] 1. The act or state of preceding or going before in order of time; priority; as, one event has precedence of another. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act or state of going or being before in rank or dignity, or the place of honor; right to a more honorable place; superior rank; as, barons have precedence of commoners. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which of them [ the different desires ] has the precedency in determining the will to the next action? Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Antecedence; priority; preëminence; preference; superiority. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf. F. précédent. See Precede. ] Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services. Shak. “A precedent injury.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an authoritative example. [ 1913 Webster ]

Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Example; antecedent. -- Precedent, Example. An example in a similar case which may serve as a rule or guide, but has no authority out of itself. A precedent is something which comes down to us from the past with the sanction of usage and of common consent. We quote examples in literature, and precedents in law. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a precedent; authorized or sanctioned by an example of a like kind. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the nature of a precedent; having force as an example for imitation; as, precedential transactions. [ 1913 Webster ]

All their actions in that time are not precedential to warrant posterity. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Beforehand; antecedently. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Abl. of the gerundive of L. procedere. see Proceed. ] (Law) (a) A writ by which a cause which has been removed on insufficient grounds from an inferior to a superior court by certiorari, or otherwise, is sent down again to the same court, to be proceeded in there. (b) In English practice, a writ issuing out of chancery in cases where the judges of subordinate courts delay giving judgment, commanding them to proceed to judgment. (c) A writ by which the commission of the justice of the peace is revived, after having been suspended. Tomlins. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]