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]