antecedents

Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.

An ancestor.

(grammar) A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun.

The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p \rightarrow q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent.

The first of two subsets of a sequent, consisting of all the sequent's formulae which are valuated as true.

The first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a in the ratio a:b, the other being the consequent.

(chiefly in the plural) Previous principles, conduct, history, etc.