SG Heritage Dictionary

Precedent [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. Going before in time; anterior; antecedent; as precedent services; a precedent fault of the will.

2. The world, or any part thereof, could not be precedent to the creation of man.

3. A precedent condition, in law, is a condition which must happen or be performed before an estate or some right can vest, and on failure of which the estate or right is defeated.

Precedent [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. Something done or said, that may serve or be adduced as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the like kind.

2. Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.

3. In law, a judicial decision, interlocutory or final, which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; or any proceeding or course of proceedings which may serve for a rule insubsequent cases of a like nature.

Precedent [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services.

Precedent [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

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

2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign.

3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.

4. 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.

Precedented [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Having a precedent; authorized by an example of a like kind.

Precedented [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Having a precedent; authorized or sanctioned by an example of a like kind.

Precedential [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

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

Precedently [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Beforehand; antecedently.

Precedently [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Beforehand; antecedently.

Prototype Roget’s Thesaurus §22

N. prototype, original, model, pattern, precedent, standard, ideal, reference, scantling, type, archetype, antitype, protoplast, module, exemplar, example, ensample, paradigm, lay-figure, text, copy, design, fugleman, keynote, die, mold, matrix, last, plasm, proplasm, protoplasm, mint, seal, punch, intaglio, negative, stamp

V. be an example, be a role model, set an example, set a copy

Phr. a precedent embalms a principle, exempla sunt odiosa, 4, general relation

Precedence Roget’s Thesaurus §62

N. precedence, coming before, the lead, le pas, superiority, importance, antecedence, antecedency, anteriority, precursor, priority, precession, anteposition, epacme, preference

V. precede, come before, come first, head, lead, take the lead, lead the way, lead the dance, be in the vanguard, introduce, usher in, have the pas, set the fashion, open the ball, take precedence, have precedence, have the start, place before, prefix, premise, prelude, preface

Adj. preceding, precedent, antecedent, anterior, prior, before, former, foregoing, beforementioned, abovementioned, aforementioned, aforesaid, said, precursory, precursive, prevenient, preliminary, prefatory, introductory, prelusive, prelusory, proemial, preparatory

Adv. before, in advance

Phr. seniores priores, prior tempore prior jure

Precursor Roget’s Thesaurus §64

N. precursor, antecedent, precedent, predecessor, forerunner, vancourier, avant-coureur, pioneer, prodrome|, prodromos, prodromus, outrider, leader, bellwether, herald, harbinger, foreboding, dawn, avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare, forelooper, foreloper, stalking-horse, voorlooper, voortrekker, prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos, protasis, proemium, prolusion, proem, prolepsis, prolegomena, prefix, introduction, heading, frontispiece, groundwork, preparation, overture, exordium, symphony, premises, prefigurement, omen

Adj. precursory, prelusive, prelusory, preludious, proemial, introductory, prefatory, prodromous, inaugural, preliminary, precedent

Phr. "a precedent embalms a principle"

Priority Roget’s Thesaurus §116

N. priority, antecedence, anteriority, precedence, pre-existence, precession, precursor, the past, premises

V. precede, come before, forerun, go before, preexist, dawn, presage, herald, usher in, be beforehand, steal a march upon, anticipate, forestall, have the start, gain the start

Adj. prior, previous, preceding, precedent, anterior, antecedent, pre- existing, pre-existent, former, foregoing, aforementioned, before- mentioned, abovementioned, aforesaid, said, introductory

Adv. before, prior to, earlier, previously, afore, aforehand, beforehand, ere, theretofore, erewhile, ere then, ere now, before then, before now, erewhile, already, yet, beforehand, on the eve of

Phr. prior tempore prior jure

Frequency Roget’s Thesaurus §136

N. frequency, oftness, oftenness, commonness, repetition, normality, example (conformity) 82, routine, custom (habit) 613, regularity, uniformity, constancy, clock-work precision, punctuality, even tenor, system, routine, formula, rule, keynote, standard, model, precedent, conformity

V. recur, do nothing but, keep, keep on

Adj. frequent, many times, not rare, thickcoming, incessant, perpetual, continual, steady, constant, thick, uniform, repeated, customary (habit) 613, regular (normal) 80, according to rule, common, everyday, usual, ordinary, familiar, old-hat, boring, well-known, trivial

Adv. often, oft, ofttimes, oftentimes, frequently, repeatedly, unseldom, not unfrequently, in quick succession, in rapid succession, many a time and oft, daily, hourly &c, every day, every hour, every moment &c. perpetually, continually, constantly, incessantly, without ceasing, at all times, daily and hourly, night and day, day and night, day after day, morning noon and night, ever anon, invariably (habit) 613, most often, commonly, sometimes, occasionally, at times, now and then, from time to time, there being times when, toties quoties, often enough, when the mood strikes, again and again

Precession Roget’s Thesaurus §280

N. precession, leading, heading, precedence, priority, the lead, le pas, van, precursor

V. go before, go ahead, go in the van, go in advance, precede, forerun, usher in, introduce, herald, head, take the lead, lead the way, lead the dance, get the start, have the start, steal a march, get before, get ahead, get in front of, outstrip, take precedence

Adj. leading, precedent

Adv. in advance, before, ahead, in the van, in the lead, foremost, headmost, in front, at the head, out in front, way out in front, far ahead

Phr. seniores priores, ahead of his time

Habit Roget’s Thesaurus §613

N. habit, habitude, assuetude|, assuefaction|, wont, run, way, common state of things, general state of things, natural state of things, ordinary state of things, ordinary course of things, ordinary run of things, matter of course, beaten path, beaten track, beaten ground, prescription, custom, use, usage, immemorial usage, practice, prevalence, observance, conventionalism, conventionality, mode, fashion, vogue, etiquette, order of the day, cry, conformity, consuetude, dustoor, one's old way, old school, veteris vestigia flammae, laudator temporis acti, rule, standing order, precedent, routine, red-tape, red-tapism, pipe clay, rut, groove, cacoethes, bad habit, confirmed habit, inveterate habit, intrinsic habit &c, addiction, trick, training, seasoning, second nature, acclimatization, knack &c

V. be wont, fall into a rut, fall into a custom, tread the beaten track, follow the beaten track, tread the beaten path, follow the beaten, stare super antiquas vias, move in a rut, run on in a groove, go round like a horse in a mill, go on in the old jog trot way, habituate, inure, harden, season, caseharden, accustom, familiarize, naturalize, acclimatize, keep one's hand in, train, get into the way, get into the knack of, learn, cling to, adhere to, repeat, acquire a habit, contract a habit, fall into a habit, acquire a trick, contract a trick, fall into a trick, addict oneself to, take to, get into, be habitual, prevail, come into use, become a habit, take root, gain upon one, grow upon one

Adj. habitual, accustomary, prescriptive, accustomed, of daily occurrence, of everyday occurrence, consuetudinary, wonted, usual, general, ordinary, common, frequent, everyday, household, garden variety, jog, trot, well-trodden, well-known, familiar, vernacular, trite, commonplace, conventional, regular, set, stock, established, stereotyped, prevailing, prevalent, current, received, acknowledged, recognized, accredited, of course, admitted, understood, conformable, &c. 82, according to use, according to custom, according to routine, in vogue, in fashion, in, with it, fashionable, wont, used to, given to, addicted to, attuned to, habituated, in the habit of, habitue, at home in, seasoned, imbued with, devoted to, wedded to, hackneyed, fixed, rooted, deep-rooted, ingrafted, permanent, inveterate, besetting, naturalized, ingrained

Adv. habitually, always, as usual, as is one's wont, as things go, as the world goes, as the sparks fly upwards, more suo, more solito, ex more, as a rule, for the most part, usually, generally, typically, most often, most frequently

Phr. cela s'entend, abeunt studia in mores, adeo in teneris consuescere multum est, consuetudo quasi altera natura, hoc erat in more majorum, "how use doth breed a habit in a man!", magna est vis consuetudinis, morent fecerat usus

Lawsuit Roget’s Thesaurus §969

N. lawsuit, suit, action, cause, litigation, suit in # law, dispute, citation, arraignment, prosecution, impeachment, accusation, presentment, true bill, indictment, apprehension, arrest, committal, imprisonment, writ, summons, subpoena, latitat, nisi prius, venire, venire facias pleadings, declaration, bill, claim, proces verbal, bill of right, information, corpus delicti, affidavit, state of facts, answer, reply, replication, plea, demurrer, rebutter, rejoinder, surrebutter, surrejoinder, suitor, party to a suit, plaintiff, defendant, litigant, hearing, trial, verdict, appeal, appeal motion, writ of error, certiorari, case, decision, precedent, decided case, reports (legal reference works, see reference books)

V. go to law, appeal to the law, bring to justice, bring to trial, bring to the bar, put on trial, pull up, accuse, prefer a claim, file a claim, take the law of, inform against, serve with a writ, cite, apprehend, arraign, sue, prosecute, bring an action against, indict, impeach, attach, distrain, commit, arrest, summon, summons, give in charge, empanel a jury, implead, join issue, close the pleadings, set down for hearing, try, hear a cause, sit in judgment, adjudicate

Adj. litigious, qui tam, coram judice, sub judice

Adv. pendente lite

Phr. adhuc sub judice lis est, accedas ad curiam, transeat in exemplum