Things that come before and indicate the approach of something else; forerunners or harbingers. In chemistry, substances from which other compounds are formed.
From Latin 'praecursor,' from 'prae' (before) and 'currere' (to run). Originally meant 'one who runs ahead' to announce someone's arrival, like a herald or messenger.
The word captures the beautiful idea that most significant events cast shadows before them - whether it's tremors before earthquakes or early symptoms before illness. Scientists love this word because it embodies the detective work of tracing effects back to their origins.
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