An antecedent is a word, phrase or clause that determines what a pronoun that follows refers to.

late 14c. (n. and adj.), from Old French antecedent (14c.) or directly from Latin antecedentem (nominative antecedens), present participle of antecedere "go before, precede," from ante- &quo [..]

In a conditional p → q, the antecedent is p.

n. One who or that which precedes or goes before, as in time, place, rank, order, or causality.

In literary context:

1. an event preceding or occasioning another event - setting the stage for a particular response. 2. In linguistics, the noun or pronoun to whom the phrase refers (for example, train in the sentence: [..]

forerunner (pop)

The antecedent of a pronoun is the word which the pronoun stands for. In the first sentence on this page the pronoun which is taking the place of word. Therefore, word is the antecedent.

earlier in time or order

Antecedent means earlier, pre-existing or previous. Any preceding thing or the quality or fact of being before.

(n) someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)(n) a preceding occurrence or cause or event(n) anything that precedes something similar in time(n) the referent of [..]

something that comes before, precedes, or causes a behavior.

(korrelat): term used in connection with relative pronouns and relative clauses. The antecedent of a relative pronoun or a relative clause is the noun phrase that the pronoun or the clause refers back [..]

Stable Blood Coagulation Factor involved in the intrinsic pathway. The activated form XIa activates Factor IX to IXa. Deficiency of factor XI is often called Hemophilia C.

 the noun or noun phrase to which a pronoun refers.

a noun, phrase, or element of a sentence mentioned earlier to which a pronoun refers.

a word, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun (or other substitute) when mentioned subsequently (in the same sentence or later) e.g. "Emily is nice because she brings me flowers.&am [..]

 The word, group of words, or clause to which a pronoun in a sentence refers. The antecedent may follow the pronoun, although it usually precedes it (e.g., William telephoned to say he would be late) [..]

Existing or occurring before in time or order often with consequential effects. (18 Nov 1997)

Earlier, either in time or order. ''an event antecedent to the Biblical Flood'' ''an antecedent cause'' presumptive ''an antecedent improbability''