antecedents

noun

1. 1

   Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.

2. 2

   An ancestor.

3. 3

   (grammar) A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun.

4. 4

   The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p \rightarrow q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent.

5. 5

   The first of two subsets of a sequent, consisting of all the sequent's formulae which are valuated as true.

6. 6

   The first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a in the ratio a:b, the other being the consequent.

7. 7

   (chiefly in the plural) Previous principles, conduct, history, etc.