precedent

An act or instance that may be used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances.

A judicial decision that is binding on other equal or lower courts in the same jurisdiction as to its conclusion on a point of law, and may also be persuasive to courts in other jurisdictions, in subsequent cases involving sufficiently similar facts.

Convention or custom arising from long practice.

Preceding.

(prē˙-sē′ dent). Preceding; going before in the order of time; antecedent; anterior; previous; former.

(pres′ ē˙-dent). A preceding action or circumstance which may serve as a pattern or example in subsequent cases; an antecedent instance which creates a rule for following cases; a model instance.

Specifically, in law: A judicial decision, interlocutory or final, which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases.

A form of proceeding or of an instrument followed or deemed worthy to be followed as a pattern in similar or analogous cases.

A custom, habit, or rule established; previous example or usage.