An antecedent's a preceding event, condition, cause, phrase, or word. It may refer to: Antecedent moisture, a hydrologic term describing the relative wetness condition of a sewershed Antecedent (logic), the first half of a hypothetical proposition Antecedent (grammar), the word to which a pronoun refers A musical phrase (music) may be an antecedent or consequent phrase. Antecedent (law), in criminology, the life history and previous convictions of a defendant Antecedent stimulus, in behavi… (More on Antecedent)