English → Latin
“precursor” in Latin
praecursorforerunner, vanguard; spyprodrŏmusA certain north-northeast wind that blows eight days before the rising of the dog-star
The English word precursor itself goes back to Latin currō, through praecursor.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
precursor
PROP., praecursor (Liv.); prodromus (Cic., Att., 1, 12, 1); anteambulo (Suet., Vesp., 2).
Figuratively, quasi dux consequents alicujus rei (Cic., Tusc., 4, 30, 64): praecursor, in this sense, late; but praecursor et emissarius alicujus for “a person’s precursor” if commissioned by him, his emissary, is classical (Cic.); zephyrus praenuntius veris (Lucr., 5, 736; precursor of spring).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for precursor?
- The usual Latin words for “precursor” are praecursor, prodrŏmus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.