The crossword solution for the term TIME IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING is EVE, which is a three-letter word. EVE is a biblical figure who is traditionally regarded as the first woman created by God in the Book of Genesis. She is also known as the mother of all living and is often seen as a symbol of motherhood. In the Bible, she is the one who tempts Adam to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. This event marks the beginning of human history and is seen as the time immediately preceding the fall of man.