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precedent

noun
 
🔊/ˈpresɪdənt/
🔊/ˈpresɪdənt/
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  1.  
    [countable, uncountable] an official action or decision that has happened in the past and that is seen as an example or a rule to be followed in a similar situation later可援用参考的具体例子；实例；范例
    • The ruling set a precedent for future libel cases.这项裁决为今后的诽谤案提供了判例。🔊🔊
    Extra Examples
    • Overturning a legal precedent is no easy matter.推翻一项法律先例绝不是一件容易的事情。
    • The judge based his decision on precedents set during the Middle Ages.法官基于中世纪时的先例作出了决定。
    • There is no obvious precedent for this law.该法律没有明显的先例。
    • This case could could serve as a precedent for others against the tobacco companies.此案可以作为其他人反对烟草公司的先例。
    • This lowering of standards sets a dangerous precedent for future developments.这次标准的降低为将来的发展开了危险的先例。
    • The decision of the local authority was based on historical precedent.地方当局的决定是以历史前例为依据的。
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • bad
    • dangerous
    • terrible
    • …
    verb + precedent
    • serve as
    • have
    • create
    • …
    preposition
    • without precedent
    • precedent for
    See full entry
  2.  
    [countable, uncountable] a similar action or event that happened earlier先前出现的事例；前例；先例
    • historical precedents历史前例
    • There is no precedent for a disaster of this scale.这种规模的灾难是空前的。🔊🔊
    • without precedent Such protests are without precedent in recent history.这类抗议事件在近代史上没有发生过。🔊🔊
    • The achievements of this period were without precedent in history.这一时期取得的成就是史无前例的。
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • bad
    • dangerous
    • terrible
    • …
    verb + precedent
    • serve as
    • have
    • create
    • …
    preposition
    • without precedent
    • precedent for
    See full entry
  3. [uncountable] the way that things have always been done传统；常例；常规 synonym tradition
    • to break with precedent (= to do something in a different way)打破常规
    see also unprecedented
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • bad
    • dangerous
    • terrible
    • …
    verb + precedent
    • serve as
    • have
    • create
    • …
    preposition
    • without precedent
    • precedent for
    See full entry
    4. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, literally ‘preceding’.