前ぜん蹤しょう

noun

precedent; past example

A formal, literary term for a past event or action that serves as a model or reference for later cases. Rare in everyday speech; more common synonyms include 先例 or 前例.

• この判はん決けつは重じゅう要ような前ぜん蹤しょうとなるだろう。

  This ruling will likely become an important precedent.

• 歴れき史し的てきな前ぜん蹤しょうを調しらべて、適てき切せつな対たい応おうを検けん討とうした。

  We examined historical precedents and considered an appropriate response.