- [countable, uncountable]
an official action or decision that has happened in the past and that is seen as an example or a rule to be followed in a similar situation later 可援用参考的具体例子；实例；范例 Extra ExamplesOverturning a legal precedent is no easy matter. 推翻一项法律先例绝不是一件容易的事情。 The judge based his decision on precedents set during the Middle Ages. 法官基于中世纪时的先例作出了决定。 There is no obvious precedent for this law. 该法律没有明显的先例。 This case could could serve as a precedent for others against the tobacco companies. 此案可能成为其他人反对烟草公司的先例。 This lowering of standards sets a dangerous precedent for future developments. 这次标准的降低为将来的发展开了危险的先例。 The decision of the local authority was based on historical precedent. 地方当局的决定是以历史前例为依据的。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bad
- dangerous
- terrible
- …
- serve as
- have
- create
- …
- without precedent
- precedent for
- [countable, uncountable]
a similar action or event that happened earlier 先前出现的事例；前例；先例 historical precedents 历史前例 There is no precedent for a disaster of this scale. 这种规模的灾难是空前的。 - without precedent
Such protests are without precedent in recent history. 这类抗议事件在近代史上没有发生过。 The achievements of this period were without precedent in history. 这一时期取得的成就是史无前例的。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bad
- dangerous
- terrible
- …
- serve as
- have
- create
- …
- without precedent
- precedent for
- [uncountable]
the way that things have always been done 传统；常例；常规 to break with precedent (= to do something in a different way) 打破常规
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bad
- dangerous
- terrible
- …
- serve as
- have
- create
- …
- without precedent
- precedent for
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, literally ‘preceding’.