preceding

[pri-see-ding] /prɪˈsi dɪŋ/
adjective
1.
that precedes; previous:
Refer back to the footnote on the preceding page.
Origin
1485-95; precede + -ing2
Synonyms
foregoing, prior, former, earlier.
Antonyms
succeeding, following.

precede

[pri-seed] /prɪˈsid/
verb (used with object), preceded, preceding.
1.
to go before, as in place, order, rank, importance, or time.
2.
to introduce by something preliminary; preface:
to precede one's statement with a qualification.
verb (used without object), preceded, preceding.
3.
to go or come before.
noun
4.
Journalism. copy printed at the beginning of a news story presenting late bulletins, editorial notes, or prefatory remarks.
Origin
1325-75; Middle English preceden < Latin praecēdere. See pre-, cede
Related forms
precedable, adjective
unpreceded, adjective
Can be confused
precede, proceed.
Examples from the web for preceding
  • Over the preceding half-century, Scotland had been steadily growing poorer.
  • What's important are not the details but the pronoun placement, she preceding me.
  • Diaries of the preceding days mention smoky air and a red sun at morning and evening.
  • So figures preceding 1920 are largely assumptions made in retrospect.
  • The days preceding major holidays are plainly welcome to barbers, since that is when their scissors are most in demand.
  • The preceding chart nicely sums up the problem with spending cuts.
  • The preceding argument does not depend on technical progress.
  • Over the preceding decade, the price tag of a college education in Ohio had increased by an average of 9 percent a year.
  • The theme is of the same nature as in the preceding poem.
  • Most costumes are ordered at trade shows the preceding winter.
British Dictionary definitions for preceding

preceding

/prɪˈsiːdɪŋ/
adjective
1.
(prenominal) going or coming before; former

precede

/prɪˈsiːd/
verb
1.
to go or be before (someone or something) in time, place, rank, etc
2.
(transitive) to preface or introduce
Word Origin
C14: via Old French from Latin praecēdere to go before, from prae before + cēdere to move
Word Origin and History for preceding

precede

v.

early 15c., "lead the way; occur before," from Middle French preceder and directly from Latin praecedere "to go before," from prae "before" (see pre-) + cedere "to go" (see cede). Meaning "to walk in front of" is late 15c.; that of "to go before in rank or importance" is attested from mid-15c. Related: Preceded; preceding.