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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Preced(e, Preceid(e, v.¹ Also: praeceid. [e.m.E. precede (1485), -ceed(e (1581), F. précéder (14th c. in Littré), L. præcēdere.] To go before, in various applications.

1. tr. a. To go before in quality or degree; to surpass or exceed. b. To precede in rank, occupy a higher position than.a. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 177.
Crist sad … ‘Ymang birthis that weman bare Thane Iohne Baptiste vas nane mare; For he al vthyre in that precedis’

b. (See Precedens n.).

2. a. To come before in time, to take place before, be anterior to, anticipate. 1533 Boece 213 b.
Sa mony as amang oure nacioun invincust to this day has precedit ws 1549 Compl. 36/13.
The singis & taikkyns that precedis the daye of iugement 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 549.
Hir revesing preceiding hir pretendit mariage … wes nathing ellis but a colourit mask [etc.] a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 128.
Albeit the caus preceided the inhibitione 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X 359.
For them to know the seaverall dwellings yearlie of there parishioners which yet of necessitie most preceid there catechizing visiting the seek [etc.]

b. Of a person: To act in anticipation of, to anticipate. 1456 Hay II 123/21.
For it is rycht spedefull to byde thine appetite ay, and nocht precede it

3. intr. and absol. a. In logic: To have priority, to be anterior. b. To go before in order of precedence; to have precedence. c. To happen first.a. 1490 Irland Mir. II 16/9.
In the hali doctrine of Ihesu and the faith thar is sum proposiciouns that precedisb. 1502–3 Mill Mediæv. Plays 118.
Thai pretendit thame to precede and pas in the place of the processione quhare the talȝouris had vys to pas 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 244.
And in excepting onlie the chancellor he hes allowed none els to preceidc. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 84/7.
For thaire prætendit reformation of princis takis neuer effect but quhaire euill gouuernment præceidis