precedent

  1. Noun.  An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
  2. Noun.  (legal) A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
  3. Noun.  (obsolete, with definite article) The aforementioned (thing).
  4. Noun.  The previous version.
  5. Adjective.  Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.
  6. Verb.  (transitive, legal) To provide precedents for.
  7. Verb.  (transitive, legal) To be a precedent for.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.