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predecessor

[pred-uh-ses-er, pred-uh-ses-er or, especially Brit., pree-duh-ses-er]

Origin

noun

a person who precedes another in an office, position, etc.

something succeeded or replaced by something else: The new monument in the park is more beautiful than its predecessor.

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

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To predecessor

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Predecessor is always a great word to know.

So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

predecessor (ˈpriːdɪˌsɛsə)

—n
1.	a person who precedes another, as in an office
2.	something that precedes something else
3.	an ancestor; forefather

[C14: via Old French from Late Latin praedēcessor, from prae before + dēcēdere to go away, from dē away + cēdere to go]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

predecessor

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).

EXPAND

Meaning "ancestor, forefather" is recorded from c.1400.

COLLAPSE

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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