Lewis Short
praecursÄo (noun F) : id.
* A coming or going before. *
* In gen.: sine praecursione visorum,without a previous occurrence of phenomena,Cic. Fat. 19, 44.
* In partic. *
* In milit. lang., a preliminary combat, a skirmish, Plin. Ep. 6, 13, 6.
* In rhet. lang., a preparation of the hearer, Cic. Top. 15, 59.
* The office or work of a forerunner, the mission of John the Baptist, Aug. Tract. in Johan. 4, 6.
Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary