Precedent \Pre*ced"ent\, a. [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of
praecedere: cf. F. pr['e]c['e]dent. See {Precede}.]
Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent
services. --Shak. ``A precedent injury.'' --Bacon.
{Condition precedent} (Law), a condition which precede the
vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right.