We see it as an appetizer that could precede a glorious banquet.
Of course, there are delicate negotiations that precede such an event.
He had a special knife designed to cut the dense loaf, and a ceremony to precede cutting the cake.
These three last he supposes to precede very shortly the death of Sokrates.
“After you, friend,” remarked Phil, waving his hand for the armourer to precede them.
It had been Sophie's last wish that the wedding should precede her funeral.
In a discussion of this character, observation must precede calculation.
The figure excites the thought rather of the new young life to come, than of the death which must precede it.
But effective organization must precede most effective and permanent service.
How can a possible sensation, that is, an event which did not take place, precede one which does take place?
early 15c., "lead the way; occur before," from Middle French preceder and directly from Latin praecedere "to go before," from prae "before" (see pre-) + cedere "to go" (see cede). Meaning "to walk in front of" is late 15c.; that of "to go before in rank or importance" is attested from mid-15c. Related: Preceded; preceding.
