PRECE'DE, verb transitive [Latin proecedo; proe, before, and cedo, to more.] 1. To go before in the order of time. The corruption of morals precedes the ruin of a state. 2. To go before in rank or importance. 3. To cause something to be before; to make to take place in prior time. It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration. [Unusual.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI