Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.