precedent
noun /ˈpresɪdənt/
/ˈpresɪdənt/
- [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 - The ruling set a precedent for future libel cases.
这项裁决为今后的诽谤案提供了判例。
- Overturning 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。
Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bad
- dangerous
- terrible
- …
- serve as
- have
- create
- …
- without precedent
- precedent for
- The ruling set a precedent for future libel cases.
- [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。
Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bad
- dangerous
- terrible
- …
- serve as
- have
- create
- …
- without precedent
- precedent for
- historical precedents
- [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
Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bad
- dangerous
- terrible
- …
- serve as
- have
- create
- …
- without precedent
- precedent for
- to break with precedent (= to do something in a different way)
词源late Middle English: from Old French, literally ‘preceding’.