† proegumeneadj.

Etymology: < ancient Greek προηγούμενη, feminine (perhaps taken as qualifying αἰτία cause) of προηγούμενος preceding, in Hellenistic Greek also predisposing, use as adjective of present participle of προηγεῖσθαι to lead, precede < προ- pro- prefix² + ἠγεῖσθαι to lead (see hegumen n.). Compare post-classical Latin proegumenus (see proegumenal adj.). Compare earlier procatarctic adj., procatarctical adj.The post-classical Latin passage translated in quot. 1650 cites προηγούμενη as a Greek word. Compare the following later examples of unassimilated borrowings of post-classical Latin proegumena, proegumenae:1684 tr. S. Blankaart Physical Dict. 237 Proegumena [L. Proegumena], an antecedent internal Cause of a Disease in the Body occasioned by another, and so causing the Disease, that if it be taken away, the Disease may still continue.1800 W. C. Brown tr. G. Borsieri de Kanifeld Inst. Pract. Med. I. 146 The remote causes..; among which are ranked both the proegumenæ and procatarticæ (predisposing and primary).