Standard Lemma guide

precurse

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /pɹɪˈkɜɹs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A prediction, a prognostication.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

Examples

  • And even the like precurse of fierce events, As harbingers preceding still the fates And prologue to the omen coming on, Have heaven and earth together demonstrated Unto our climatures and countrymen. (Shakespeare)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To forerun or precede.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

English pre- + curse, from Latin praecursum (supine of praecurrō [“run before”]).