Both Uses of
precede
in
The Great Gatsby
- Slenderly, languidly, their hands set lightly on their hips, the two young women preceded us out onto a rosy-colored porch, open toward the sunset, where four candles flickered on the table in the diminished wind.
p. 11.6 *preceded = went before
- With a reluctant backward glance the well-disciplined child held to her nurse's hand and was pulled out the door, just as Tom came back, preceding four gin rickeys that clicked full of ice.
p. 118.0preceding = coming beforeeditor's notes: Preceding is a surprising word choice here since Tom is almost certainly carrying the drinks in front of him. Perhaps Fitzgerald is emphasizing the drinks--giving them a life of their own.
Definition:
to go or do before