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ANTECEDENT

TheLaw.com Law Dictionary & Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed.

Something that goes before. In the construction of laws, agreements, and the like, reference is always to be made to the last antecedent; ad proximun antecedens fiat relatio. But not only the antecedents but the subsequent clauses of the instrument must be considered: Ex antecedentibus et consequentibus fit optima interpretatio. Before suit brought, before controversy moved.

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