Precursor
Precursor
#64. Precursor. -- N. precursor, antecedent, precedent, predecessor;
forerunner, vancourier[obs], avant-coureur[Fr], pioneer, prodrome|,
prodromos[obs], prodromus[obs], outrider; leader, bellwether; herald,
harbinger; foreboding; dawn; avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare[obs],
forelooper[obs], foreloper[obs], stalking-horse, voorlooper[Afrikaans],
voortrekker[Afrikaans].
- prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos[Fr],
protasis[obs], proemium[obs], prolusion[obs], proem, prolepsis[Gram],
prolegomena, prefix, introduction; heading, frontispiece, groundwork;
preparation &c. 673; overture, exordium[Lat], symphony; premises.
- prefigurement &c. 511; omen &c. 512.
- Adj. precursory; prelusive, prelusory, preludious[obs];
proemial[obs], introductory, prefatory, prodromous[obs], inaugural,
preliminary; precedent &c. (prior) 116.
- Phr. "a precedent embalms a principle" [Disraeli].