n. 1. One who precedes another in time, especially in holding an office or position. 2. Something that has been succeeded by another: The new building is more spacious than its predecessor. 3. An ancestor; a forebear. [Middle English predecessoure, from Old French predecesseur, from Late Latin praedēcessor : Latin prae-, pre- + Latin dēcessor, a retiring magistrate (from dēcessus, past participle of dēcēdere, to depart : dē-, away; see DE- + cēdere, to go; see ked- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] |
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