Origin: Latin prefix pre-
Predecessor has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)
"When Sarah took over as CEO, she immediately began reviewing her predecessor's strategies to see what had worked and what hadn't."
something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
"The sudden drop in barometric pressure was a clear predecessor to the approaching storm."
One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
"After retiring from the chair of physics, Dr. Evans became a mentor to his successor while still occasionally advising on research methods."