A predecessor or person who comes before another in position or time; a forerunner.
From Latin 'antecessor,' literally 'one who goes before,' combining 'ante-' (before) and 'cedere' (to go). Rare in modern English but found in historical texts.
In medieval law and history, 'antecessor' meant a predecessor in office—you'd find it in royal documents describing who held a position before the current holder.
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