<noun.attribute> the doctor saw a sequence of patients
a group of people or things arranged or following in order
<noun.group> a succession of stalls offering soft drinks a succession of failures
the action of following in order
<noun.act> he played the trumps in sequence
(ecology) the gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established
<noun.process>
acquisition of property by descent or by will
<noun.act>
Succession \Suc*ces"sion\, n. [L. successio: cf. F. succession. See {Succeed}.] 1. The act of succeeding, or following after; a following of things in order of time or place, or a series of things so following; sequence; as, a succession of good crops; a succession of disasters.
2. A series of persons or things according to some established rule of precedence; as, a succession of kings, or of bishops; a succession of events in chronology.
He was in the succession to an earldom. --Macaulay.
3. An order or series of descendants; lineage; race; descent. ``A long succession must ensue.'' --Milton.
4. The power or right of succeeding to the station or title of a father or other predecessor; the right to enter upon the office, rank, position, etc., held ny another; also, the entrance into the office, station, or rank of a predecessor; specifically, the succeeding, or right of succeeding, to a throne.
You have the voice of the king himself for your succession in Denmark. --Shak.
The animosity of these factions did not really arise from the dispute about the succession. --Macaulay.
5. The right to enter upon the possession of the property of an ancestor, or one near of kin, or one preceding in an established order.
6. The person succeeding to rank or office; a successor or heir. [R.] --Milton.
{Apostolical succession}. (Theol.) See under {Apostolical}.
{Succession duty}, a tax imposed on every succession to property, according to its value and the relation of the person who succeeds to the previous owner. [Eng.]
{Succession of crops}. (Agric.) See {Rotation of crops}, under {Rotation}.
It has been a good week for North American executives who supposedly lost out in the John Akers/Lou Gerstner succession at IBM.
While puzzling over her response, the narrator recounts how his mother would dismiss and rehire her several times in succession.
He also won the Derby in 1929 and 1930, a double that was not emulated until 1973; and won 19 races in succession, a record which was not broken until 1974.
The Rev. Barbara Harris, with the voices of dissidents overwhelmed by cheers from thousands of fellow Episcopalians, on Saturday became the first woman elevated to bishop in a 2,000-year succession dating back to the apostles.
The scandal forced Kanemaru's mentor, Noboru Takeshita, to resign as prime minister and sidelined most candidates for the succession.
By the end of the 1980s it was involved in a number of activities including publishing and campaigning. It was hit by the resignations of two chief executives in quick succession and government cuts in funding for employment training schemes.
They'll also be talking about progress toward reunification in Germany, and about the risk of deunification in Canada, where the French-Canadians of Quebec are threatening succession.
It may also hope for further hints on management succession following the recent promotion of Mr Derek Bonham, chief executive, to the title of deputy chairman apparently making him front runner to succeed Lord Hanson when he retires in 1997.
"One other thing is to put a succession plan in place," he added.
Lately, however, a coolness developed in the relationship as a succession of military victories made Baghdad less willing to settle for peace.
MBB was added to a rapid succession of technology and aerospace acquisitions in 1985, when AEG AG, MTU and Dornier were taken aboard.
Goldman is "very sensitive to succession.
In quick succession, he became general manager for East Anglia and the east Midlands, then head of a new corporate banking division.
The prettiest Adina one can hope to see, she spent the time modeling very nice costumes in a succession of stiff poses.
This week, these investors have lost eagerness to buy stocks that had driven the market to a succession of records.
One tableau of "The Imperial White Nights" is a stunning succession of gossamer-light silvery embroidered dresses.
But the succession didn't succeed.
Equity issues to fund a rapid succession of deals may have looked attractive in the roaring 1980s, but not in the more sober 1990s.
A succession of Israeli governments have refused to deal with the PLO, which Israel views as a terrorist group.
Michael Mander, a director of Hill Samuel Bank, has been elected chairman of the council of the Institute of Directors, in succession to Sir Dermot Trafford Bt who has held the post since January 1991.
By the close yesterday they had more than recovered the losses. The question of succession remains.
So while Mr. Deng now faces a scramble to set up a new succession plan, in the end he may emerge from this crucible having scored points all around for taking the opportunity to pluck Mr. Hu from power.
The range is wide, from Pounds 160m to Pounds 175m. Kwik Save, the discount food retailer, has been the subject of many rumours recently, some of which - such as the management succession - might be explained with Thursday's interim figures.
It also lets you express your intentions for your children, other dependants or pets, and what should be done with your body. Those with young children should name guardians who could take charge of them if both parents should die in quick succession.
Mr. Simmons will concentrate on strategy, acquisitions and management succession.
This time John Major could demonstrate that the City's old boy net is no longer the key to the succession.
The changes appeared to be another step in Teledyne's senior management succession that began in 1986 when Mr. Singleton resigned as chief executive.
I could go to work there tomorrow,' he said. Mr Ricupero has been finance minister since April, after holding a succession of increasingly visible diplomatic and political posts.
But a Scotland Yard spokeswoman, who declined to be named, denied they were treated leniently simply because Windsor, who is 19th in line of succession to the throne, is a member of the royal family.
As Mr Churchill admitted, those going into bank branches may get 'cheesed off' by a succession of offers.