precede

Where does the word "precede" come from? It comes from Latin praecedere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Precede’s story begins in Latin: praecedere meant “to go before.” To go before, from prae- (before) and cedere (to go). It reached English by 1400s as precede. Settled as the English word for coming before something in time or order. Today, precede means to come before something else in time, order, or rank.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient praecedere "to go before", to go before, from prae- (before) and cedere (to go).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s precede "to come before something in time, order, or importance", settled as the English word for coming before something in time or order.