predecessor

Everyday

1. A predecessor is the person who had a job or position before someone else. tree →
2. A predecessor is a thing that came before another thing and was replaced by it, like an older model of a phone. tree →

In the lessons

In history: a king's predecessor. In formal speech: the new head teacher's predecessor. In maths, the predecessor of a number is the number just before it: the predecessor of 10 is 9. Phrases: his predecessor, predecessor of.

Examples

• The new head teacher is stricter than her predecessor. tree →
• This phone is faster than its predecessor. tree →
• The king's predecessor was his uncle. tree →
• The predecessor of 100 is 99. tree →
• Write the predecessor of each number. tree →
• The new bridge is much wider than its predecessor. tree →
• I saw him, last winter, make your predecessor run, and his predecessor before him. tree →

Note

Opposite: successor. In maths (taught in some countries): predecessor = the number minus 1; successor = the number plus 1. Countable. Stress: PREE-di-ses-er (UK) or PRED-e-ses-er (US).

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Writers on Sefer Yetzirah argue about how old the book is. Westcott uses an earlier work like it to claim a very early date. In the primary lessons: In history: a king's predecessor. In formal speech: the new head teacher's predecessor. In maths, the predecessor of a number is the number just before it: the predecessor of 10 is 9. Phrases: his predecessor, predecessor of.

Examples

• This work then, or a similar predecessor, is at least as old as a.d. 200. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• This work then, or a similar predecessor, is at least as old as A.D. 200. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• Again, I have to add that I have not only endeavored to correct a great many mistakes and erroneous ideas of my predecessors, but I have also endeavored to give more complete annotations. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Opposite: successor. In maths (taught in some countries): predecessor = the number minus 1; successor = the number plus 1. Countable. Stress: PREE-di-ses-er (UK) or PRED-e-ses-er (US).