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Precedent - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Precedent : adj : preceding in time, order, or significance
(noun)
1: an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a
later time [syn: case in point]
2: (civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial
decisions [syn: case law, common law]
3: a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents
rather than statutory laws; "common law originated in the
unwritten laws of England and was later applied in the
United States" [syn: common law, case law]
4: a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time)
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Precedent : \Pre*ced"ent\, a. [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of
praecedere: cf. F. pr['e]c['e]dent. See Precede.]
Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent
services. --Shak. ``A precedent injury.'' --Bacon.
Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the
vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Precedent : \Prec"e*dent\, n.
1. Something done or said that may serve as an example to
authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an
authoritative example.
Examples for cases can but direct as precedents
only. --Hooker.
2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent;
hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign. [Obs.]
3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished
copy. [Obs.] --Shak.
4. (Law) A judicial decision which serves as a rule for
future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an
authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of
proceeding to be followed in similar cases. --Wharton.
Syn: Example; antecedent.
Usage: Precedent, Example. An example in a similar case
which may serve as a rule or guide, but has no
authority out of itself. A precedent is something
which comes down to us from the past with the sanction
of usage and of common consent. We quote examples in
literature, and precedents in law.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Example Usage of Precedent |
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thompsonvision: Senate Rules were broken yesterday! This is a dangerous Precedent! Does no one care anymore? Marxism full steam ahead?! |
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mattcragin: I think it's bad idea for Honda to take responsibility for EPA/customer problem. Sets bad Precedent & PR nightmare: http://bit.ly/8WBGsO |
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pmjaniszewski: Man whose 'fat defense' for murder failed now faces sentencing http://bit.ly/4JNtz6 <= Probably a good Precedent NOT to be set |
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