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Added 9 October 2026

precursor

/pɹɪˈkɜː.sə/ noun

Latin root: praecursor Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about precursor at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction).
A person who goes before or announces the coming of another.
Something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English precursour, from Middle French precurseur or its etymon Latin praecursor (“forerunner”). By surface analysis, precurse + -or.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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