noun /ˈpriːdɪsɛsɚ,ˈprɛdəsɛsɚ,ˈpriːdəsɛsɚ/
a) One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
Steam engine was the predecessor of diesel and electric locomotives.
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