precursor C2+ Topic:People & Society US /prɪˈkɜrsər/ UK /prɪˈkɜːsə/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun something that comes before and signals or leads to another The telegraph was a precursor to the modern telephone network. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · something that comes before... forerunnerpredecessorharbingerheraldantecedentforebearprototype ↔ Opposites successordescendantsequel Word family Derived forms precursory Related forms cursorcursorycourse Etymology AI details From Latin praecursor ('forerunner'), from praecurrere ('to run before'), from prae- ('before') + currere ('to run'). praecursor Latin currere Latin View etymology graph -> Topics People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # precursor **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /prɪˈkɜrsər/ **IPA (UK):** /prɪˈkɜːsə/ ## Meanings 1. something that comes before and signals or leads to another ## Examples - The telegraph was a precursor to the modern telephone network. ## Synonyms - forerunner - predecessor - harbinger - herald - antecedent - forebear - prototype ## Antonyms - successor - descendant - sequel ## Derived Forms - precursory ## Related Forms - cursor - cursory - course ## Roots and Affixes - Root: praecursor - Root: currere ## Etymology From Latin praecursor ('forerunner'), from praecurrere ('to run before'), from prae- ('before') + currere ('to run'). ## AI Etymology Precursor comes from Latin praecursor ('forerunner'), from praecurrere ('to run before'), from prae- ('before') + currere ('to run'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a noun, it carries the sense "something that comes before and signals or leads to another", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin praecursor and Latin currere. Derivative forms include precursory; related words include cursor, cursory, course. ## Topics - People & Society - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown