Something done or said that may serve as an example to
authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an authoritative example.
n.
A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent;
hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign.
n.
A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished
copy.
n.
A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future
determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be
followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in
similar cases.