Found 2 items, similar to precedent.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: precedent precedent n 1: an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time [syn: case in point] 2: (civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions [syn: case law, common law] 3: a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws; “common law originated in the unwritten laws of England and was later applied in the United States” [syn: common law, case law] 4: a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time) precedent adj : preceding in time, order, or significance
English → English (gcide) Definition: Precedent 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. [1913 Webster] Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right. [1913 Webster] Precedent \Prec"e*dent\, 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. Usage: 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]