Antecedent

Antecedent may refer to:

Science

• Antecedent (behavioral psychology), the stimulus that occurs before a trained behavior
• Antecedent (genealogy), antonym of descendant, genealogical predecessor in family line
• Antecedent (logic), the first half of a hypothetical proposition
• Antecedent moisture, in hydrology, the relative wetness condition of a catchment

Language

• Antecedent (grammar), the previously occurring noun phrase to which a pro-form refers
• Generic antecedent, representatives of classes, referred to in ordinary language by another word

Other uses

• Antecedent (law), the history of a defendant
• Antecedent phrase, in music