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

'antecedency' developed from Latin 'antecedentia' through Medieval Latin and Middle English (compare forms like 'antecedence'), eventually appearing in modern English as the rare noun 'antecedency'.

Initially, it meant 'the quality or state of coming before in time or order'; over time it has remained largely similar but is now a rare or formal alternative to words like 'precedence' or 'antecedence'.