Legal Definitions - antecessor

Definition: Antecessor (an-tə-ses-ər or an-tə-ses-awr) is a Latin term that has three meanings:

1. In Roman law, it refers to a professor of law.
2. In history, it means an ancestor.
3. In history, it also means a predecessor to an office.

Examples:

• John's antecessor was a famous lawyer who taught at the university for 30 years.
• The antecessors of the royal family can be traced back to the 12th century.
• The antecessor of the current CEO was a visionary leader who transformed the company.

The first example illustrates the first meaning of antecessor, which is a professor of law. John's antecessor was a famous lawyer who taught at the university for 30 years.

The second example illustrates the second meaning of antecessor, which is an ancestor. The antecessors of the royal family can be traced back to the 12th century.

The third example illustrates the third meaning of antecessor, which is a predecessor to an office. The antecessor of the current CEO was a visionary leader who transformed the company.