Definition:Antecedent/Also known as

Antecedent: Also known as

The terms:

premise

assumption

hypothesis

can often be found in the literature as a word for antecedent, but on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ we reserve the use of premise, assumption and hypothesis for elements of the structure of logical arguments.

The term antecedent clause can sometimes be seen, particularly when the conditional it is part of consists of a statement in natural language.

The archaic terms implicans and protasis can sometimes be found.

Linguistic Note

The word antecedent is usually found in classical mathematical literature, notably Euclid's The Elements.

The word comes from the Greek, and literally means leading term, or the thing that comes first.

It is pronounced an-tee-see-dent.

Sources

• 1971: Robert H. Kasriel: Undergraduate Topology ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Sets, Functions, and Relations: $\S 2$: Some Remarks on the Use of the Connectives and, or, implies
• 1972: A.G. Howson: A Handbook of Terms used in Algebra and Analysis ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1$: Some mathematical language: Connectives
• 1973: Irving M. Copi: Symbolic Logic (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $2$ Arguments Containing Compound Statements: $2.2$: Conditional Statements
• 2000: Michael R.A. Huth and Mark D. Ryan: Logic in Computer Science: Modelling and reasoning about systems ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1.1$: Declarative sentences
• 2000: James R. Munkres: Topology (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1$: Set Theory and Logic: $\S 1$: Fundamental Concepts