Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Proceed \Pro*ceed"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Proceeded}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Proceeding}.] [F. proc['e]der. fr. L. procedere,
   processum, to go before, to proceed; pro forward + cedere to
   move. See {Cede}.]
   1. To move, pass, or go forward or onward; to advance; to
      continue or renew motion begun; as, to proceed on a
      journey.

            If thou proceed in this thy insolence. --Shak.

   2. To pass from one point, topic, or stage, to another; as,
      to proceed with a story or argument.

   3. To issue or come forth as from a source or origin; to come
      from; as, light proceeds from the sun.

            I proceeded forth and came from God.  --John viii.
                                                  42.

            It proceeds from policy, not love.    --Shak.

   4. To go on in an orderly or regulated manner; to begin and
      carry on a series of acts or measures; to act by method;
      to prosecute a design.

            He that proceeds upon other principles in his
            inquiry.                              --Locke.

   5. To be transacted; to take place; to occur. [Obs.]

            He will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath
            proceeded worthy note to-day.         --Shak.

   6. To have application or effect; to operate.

            This rule only proceeds and takes place when a
            person can not of common law condemn another by his
            sentence.                             --Ayliffe.

   7. (Law) To begin and carry on a legal process.

   Syn: To advance; go on; continue; progress; issue; arise;
        emanate.

Proceeding \Pro*ceed"ing\, n.
   1. The act of one who proceeds, or who prosecutes a design or
      transaction; progress or movement from one thing to
      another; a measure or step taken in a course of business;
      a transaction; as, an illegal proceeding; a cautious or a
      violent proceeding.

            The proceedings of the high commission. --Macaulay.

   2. pl. (Law) The course of procedure in the prosecution of an
      action at law. --Blackstone.

   {Proceedings of a society}, the published record of its
      action, or of things done at its meetings.

   Syn: Procedure; measure; step, See {Transaction}.

Source : WordNet®

proceeding
     n : (law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal
         judgments are invoked [syn: {legal proceeding}, {proceedings}]