precedent
/ˈpresɪdənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpresɪdənt/ (ame, ipa) · /pri-ˈsē-dᵊnt ˈpre-sə-dənt/ (ame, mw)
precedent — 名詞
- precedentsingular
- precedentsplural
1. something earlier, such as a case or decision, that later supports a similar mov
先例
後來可援用的早期例子
something earlier, such as a case or decision, that later supports a similar move.
The school refused the request, fearing it would set a precedent.
校方拒絕了這個請求，因為擔心會開先例。
set a precedent
Last year's pay cut became a precedent for other small firms.
去年的減薪成了其他小公司的先例。
precedent for + noun
City leaders cited the old bus deal as a precedent for change.
市府領導人把舊公車協議當成改革的先例。
Granting one late form created a precedent the office could not ignore.
放行一份逾期表單，開了辦公室不能忽視的先例。
Parents worried that free retries would establish a bad precedent.
家長擔心免費重考會立下不好的先例。
- exception
a special case that is not meant to guide later action
文法句型
set a precedent
precedent for something
cite something as a precedent
用法筆記
Often used when one decision may encourage or justify similar decisions later. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about an accepted custom, and from sense 3, which is limited to court decisions.
常見錯誤
2. the usual way something has long been done and is therefore treated as the accep
慣例
因長久沿用而被接受的作法
the usual way something has long been done and is therefore treated as the accepted way.
At the temple, women still enter first by precedent.
在那座寺廟裡，女性至今仍依慣例先進門。
by precedent
The club followed precedent and chose the oldest member as chair.
那個社團依照慣例，選最年長的成員當主席。
follow precedent
Breaking with precedent, the mayor opened the meeting in two languages.
市長打破慣例，用兩種語言主持了會議。
In the Wu family, dinner starts at seven by precedent.
在 Wu 家，晚餐依慣例七點開始。
In this village, land passes to daughters by local precedent.
在這個村子裡，土地依地方慣例傳給女兒。
- tradition
often broader and more strongly connected with culture or ceremony
- custom
stresses a habitual social practice
- convention
often refers to an accepted social or professional rule
- innovation
a new way of doing something instead of the old one
文法句型
by precedent
follow precedent
break with precedent
用法筆記
Usually uncountable in this meaning and common in phrases such as "by precedent" and "break with precedent". Distinguish from sense 1, which points to one earlier example, not the whole accepted practice.
常見錯誤
3. a court decision from an earlier case that later judges may use in similar cases
判例
先前法院判決供後案依循
a court decision from an earlier case that later judges may use in similar cases.
The court's ruling became a precedent for future privacy cases.
法院的裁定成了未來隱私案件的判例。
legal precedent for + case type
Lawyers searched for a precedent before filing the new appeal.
律師在提出新上訴前先找判例。
That housing case set an important precedent in state law.
那件住宅案件在州法中立下了重要判例。
Without a clear precedent, the judge read both sides carefully.
沒有明確判例時，法官仔細讀了雙方的說法。
The Supreme Court created a precedent lower courts still follow.
最高法院建立了一項下級法院至今仍遵循的判例。
文法句型
legal precedent
precedent for a case
follow a precedent
用法筆記
Common with courts, judges, rulings, appeals, and case law. Distinguish from sense 1, which can describe any earlier example, not only a legal ruling.
常見錯誤
precedent — 形容詞
- precedentpositive
- more precedentcomparative
- most precedentsuperlative
1. formal: earlier than another thing in date, sequence, or importance.
先決的
正式用語，指必須先成立的
formal: earlier than another thing in date, sequence, or importance.
The sale cannot close until each condition precedent is met.
在每一項先決條件都達成前，這筆交易不能完成。
fixed legal phrase: condition precedent
The bank added a new condition precedent before releasing the loan.
銀行在放款前又加上一項新的先決條件。
The lawyers argued that the letter was a condition precedent to closing.
律師主張那封信是交割前必須先成立的先決條件。
Without that condition precedent, the buyer could walk away from the deal.
沒有那項先決條件，買方可以退出這筆交易。
Our contract lists three conditions precedent before the final payment is due.
我們的合約列出尾款到期前的三項先決條件。
- subsequent
formal opposite meaning coming later
文法句型
condition precedent
something is precedent to something
用法筆記
Mostly appears in formal legal phrases, especially "condition precedent" and "conditions precedent". In everyday English, earlier or previous is far more common.
常見錯誤
precedent — 動詞
- precedentpresent simple I / you / we / they
- precedents3rd person singular
- precedenting-ing form
- precedentedpast simple
1. to act as the earlier case or event that later similar ones follow.
成為先例
成為後來相似作法的依據
to act as the earlier case or event that later similar ones follow.
That 1994 circuit ruling precedented later online-speech appeals in the region.
1994 年那項巡迴法院裁定，成為該地區後來網路言論上訴案的先例。
transitive use: precedent + later appeals
The county's first noise ban precedented stricter bylaws in nearby towns.
該郡第一道噪音禁令成了附近城鎮較嚴格地方法規的先例。
The pilot entry program precedented the tighter border rules adopted later.
那項試辦入境計畫成為後來較嚴格邊境規定的先例。
Across three campuses, one privacy code precedented the rules that followed.
在三個校園裡，同一套隱私守則成了後續規定的先例。
The drought order precedented regional water limits, according to the agency memo.
根據該機關備忘錄，那道旱災命令成了區域用水限制的先例。
- prefigure
suggests showing an early sign of something later
- foreshadow
often implies warning or suggestion, not later authority
- pave the way for
focuses on making later action possible
文法句型
precedent something
something is precedented by something
用法筆記
Extremely rare as a verb. Most writers prefer set a precedent for or serve as a precedent for instead of using the verb directly.
常見錯誤
2. to support a claim, rule, or decision by bringing in an earlier example.
援引先例
以前例支持主張或決定
to support a claim, rule, or decision by bringing in an earlier example.
The opening brief precedented the appeal with a 2019 privacy ruling.
首份書狀援引 2019 年的隱私裁定，作為這項上訴的先例。
precedent + object + with + ruling
The city attorney precedented the ordinance with last year's housing judgment.
市府律師援引去年的住宅判決，作為這項條例的先例。
The judge would not precedent the order with a case from another state.
法官不願拿外州案件當先例來支持這道命令。
The senior partner told Maya to precedent the tax claim with two tribunal decisions.
資深合夥人要 Maya 用兩件審裁庭裁決作為先例，支持稅務主張。
At oral argument, union counsel precedented the complaint with an earlier safety ruling.
在言詞辯論時，工會律師援引較早的安全裁定，作為這項申訴的先例。
- justify
broader and not limited to support from earlier cases
- support
everyday and wider in meaning
- substantiate
formal and stresses supplying evidence
- undermine
to weaken rather than support an argument or claim
文法句型
precedent something with something
precedent a claim with a case
用法筆記
Chiefly legal and extremely rare. It often takes an object followed by with plus an earlier case, ruling, or decision.