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" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield"). 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.
Stone tools precede bronze tools
Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify
Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands
She always precedes her lectures with a joke
precarious
precatory
precaution
precautionary
precautious
precede
precedence
precedent
precedented
precent
precentor
