precursor

noun preh-koor-SOHR Rare

Origin: from Latin praecursor (one who runs ahead)

Also means

forerunner

Usage Note

Precursor denotes a person, idea, or event that came before and paved the way for something later. The feminine form is precursora. It is common in historical, scientific, and artistic discourse (precursor del romanticismo, precursor de la vacuna). A close synonym is pionero, though precursor stresses chronological priority more strongly.

Examples

"Goya fue un precursor del arte moderno."

Natural Translation

Goya was a precursor of modern art.

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