A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1482-1699
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Precedent, adj. (pres. p.) Also: -ente, presedent; and Precedant. [ME and e.m.E. precedent (Chaucer), presedent (Prompt. Parv.), F. précédent (13–14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. præcēdens pres. p. of præcēdere Preced(e v.1 Cf. Precedand and Preceding.]
1. pres. p. and adj. Preceding. = Precedand, Preceding in various senses.(1) 1482–3 Acts Lords of Council II cxix.
And als precedent the tak made be the said Robert to the said Andro Oliphant 1511 Treasurer's Accounts IV 197. 1546–7 Perth Guildry 237 (8 March).
Of tua ȝeris … precedent the dait herof 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 58/2.
Ane taikyn … of prodigeis precedent euyl accidentis(2) 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 86.
In the yer of God immediate precedente 1533 Bell. Livy I 33/11.
The last bataill … was in sa fer mare cruell than ony of the batellis precedent 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 9/1.
The frutis of his laubours of the daye precedent c1590 Fowler II 76/19.
Off there precedent lord and former maister c1590 Ib. 140/36.
A miscontenment and disconceate of the precedent goverment(3) 1490 Irland Mir. I 29/11.
In the chepture precedent 1490 Ib. II 28/33. 1531 Bell. Boece I iv.
Inducing his hienes to frequent reding of the historie precedent a1568 Bannatyne Bannatyne MS 234 b/74.
Vnto this littill vers nixt presedent
2. absol. Something that precedes: cf. Precedent n. 16.. Rudiments fol. 4 a.
Sui requires not sense or meaning from a former or precedent
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"Precedent adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/precedent_adj>
