Precede
PRECE'DE, verb transitive [Latin proecedo; proe, before, and cedo, to more.]
1. To go before in the order of time. The corruption of morals precedes the ruin of a state.
2. To go before in rank or importance.
3. To cause something to be before; to make to take place in prior time.
It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration. [Unusual.]