I.a., to run before, hasten on before, precede (class.; cf.: antecedo, antevenio).
I. Neutr.
A. Lit.: “eā ego huc praecucurri gratiā, ne, etc.,” Plaut. Merc. 1, 2, 110: “propere praecucurrit,” Ter. Hec. 3, 3, 11: “praecucurrit index ad Persea,” Liv. 40, 7, 7: “praecurrunt equites,” Caes. B. G. 6, 39: “praecurrit ante omnes,” id. B. C. 2, 34, 5: “citius Petro,” Vulg. Johan. 20, 4.—
B. Trop., to go on before, precede; to surpass, excel: “eo fama jam praecucurrerat de proelio Dyrrhachino,” Caes. B. C. 3, 80: “ut certis rebus certa signa praecurrerent,” precede, Cic. Div. 1, 52, 118; id. Ac. 1, 12, 45: “alicui studio,” id. Cat. 4, 9, 19; so, “alicui,” id. de Or. 3, 61, 230.—
II. Act.
A. In gen., to hasten before a person or thing, to precede, go before, anticipate: illud praecurrere cogor, to combat in advance, * Lucr. 1, 371: “aliquem aetate,” Cic. Or. 52, 176: “ita praecurrit amicitia judicium,” id. Lael. 17, 62: “nec appetitus rationem praecurrant,” id. Off. 1, 29, 102.—
B. In partic., to surpass, excel in any quality: “aliquem,” Q. Cic. Petit. Cons. 7, 28: “aliquem nobilitate,” Nep. Thras. 1, 3: “aliquem judicio,” Tac. Or. 22.—Hence, praecurrentĭa , ĭum, n. In rhetoric like antecedentia, things that go before, antecedents, Cic. de Or. 2, 39, 166: “primordia rerum et quasi praecurrentia,” id. Part. 2, 7.—* Part. perf.: praecursus , a, um, having preceded: “rumore praecurso,” Amm. 18, 2, 1.