early 15c., from Middle French precurseur and directly from Latin praecursor "forerunner," agent noun from past-participle stem of praecurrere, from prae "before" (see pre-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run"). Related: Precursory.
preconceive
preconception
precondition
preconscious
precool
precursor
predacious
pre-date
predate
predation
predator
