prethodnica

1. (of a woman) predecessor
   Nova direktorka je pohvalila svoju prethodnicu. — The new director praised her predecessor.
2. (of a phenomenon or event) forerunner; precursor
   Ta pesma je bila prethodnica čitavog novog žanra. — That song was the forerunner of a whole new genre.
3. advance guard; advance party
   Prethodnica je stigla u selo pre zore. — The advance party reached the village before dawn.

The masculine form is prethodnik.