ANTECEDENT BASIS
antecedent basis.Patents. A general word or phrase in a patent claim or description to which a
later specific word or phrase must refer. • Claims will be rejected as impermissibly vague or
indefinite if the latter word is not clearly connected to its antecedent because the wording becomes
ambiguous. In general, a term is first introduced with an indefinite article and is later referred to
with the definite article (or said). [Cases: Patents 101(6).] [Blacks Law 8th]