[pred-uh-ses-er,pred-uh-ses-eror, especially Brit., pree-duh-ses-er]Origin
pred·e·ces·sor
/ˈprɛdəˌsɛsər,ˌprɛdəˈsɛsəror, especially Brit., ˈpridəˌsɛsər/Show Spelled[pred-uh-ses-er,pred-uh-ses-eror, especially Brit., pree-duh-ses-er]Show IPA
noun
1.
a person who precedes another in an office, position, etc.
2.
something succeeded or replaced by something else: The new monument in the park is more beautiful than its predecessor.
3.
Archaic. an ancestor; forefather.
Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English predecessour < Anglo-French < Late Latin praedēcessor, equivalent to Latin prae-pre- + dēcessor retiring official, itself equivalent to dēced-, variant stem of dēcēdere to withdraw (dē-de- + cēdere to yield; see cede) + -tor-tor, with dt > ss
late 14c., "one who has held an office or position before the present holder," from L.L. prædecessorem (nom. prædecessor), c.420, from L. præ "before" + decessor "retiring official," from decess-, pp. stem of decedere "go away," also "die" (see decease).