pre•cede
Pronunciation: (pri-sēd'), [key] — v., n. -ced•ed, -ced•ing,
—v.t. - to go before, as in place, order, rank, importance, or time.
- to introduce by something preliminary; preface: to precede one's statement with a qualification.
—v.i. - to go or come before.
—n. - copy printed at the beginning of a news story presenting late bulletins, editorial notes, or prefatory remarks.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.