'antecedence' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'antecedentia', where 'ante-' meant 'before' and 'cedere' meant 'to go'.

'antecedence' changed from the Late Latin word 'antecedentia' into Middle English (via Old French or Anglo-Latin usage) and eventually became the modern English noun 'antecedence'.

Initially, it meant 'the act or state of going before' and over time evolved into its current sense of 'the state of preceding (in time, order, rank, or cause)'.