The term 'DEAL PRECEDER' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: ANTE (4 letters) and ITSA (4 letters). ANTE is a Latin word meaning 'BEFORE' or 'in front of', and is often used in the phrase 'ante up', which means to put money into the pot BEFORE a card game. ITSA is an acronym for 'It's the Same Again', which is a phrase used to indicate that the same thing should happen again. Both terms are commonly used in the context of making a deal, as they both refer to the idea of putting something in place BEFORE a deal is made.