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. 我们首先简要地回顾一下该理论历史上的先例。
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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
（尤指作为后来存在或发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 . 查尔斯•巴贝奇的机械计算机是现代计算机的前身。
Many people feel a great curiosity to find out about their antecedents. 很多人对于他们的祖先充满了好奇，很想探究一番。
language specialized
a word or phrase that a pronoun refers back to
先行词，前述词
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 的先行词。 返回 antecedent