They were determined to break from precedent.是什么意思？

They were determined to break from precedent.

他们决心打破先例。

they

pron. 他/她/它们，人们，大家，政府，当局，她们；

例句
The storms had abated by the time they rounded Cape Horn.
他们绕过合恩角时，暴风雨已经减弱。

were

be的过去时复数和第二人称单数形式，有时代替 was,用于条件从句、动词 wish 之后等；

例句
Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.
店铺、房子和车辆全都陷于火海。

determined

adj. 坚定的，毅然的，确定的；v. （使）下决心，（使）做出决定( determine的过去式和过去分词)，决定，确定，使决定；

例句
She is a remarkably adroit and determined politician.
她是一位异常精明果断的政治家。

to

prep. 向，朝着，到，关于，属于；adv. 朝一个方向的，到某种状态，关闭；

例句
I suggest you leave it to an expert...
我建议你把它留给专家来解决。

break

vt. （使）破，打破（纪录），（常指好天气）突变，开始；vi. （嗓音）突变，突破，破晓，（价格）突然下

例句
Stallone wants to break away from his action-hero image.
史泰龙想要摆脱动作明星的形象。

from

prep. （表示时间）从…，（表示原因）因为，（表示来源）来自…，（表示分离）与…分离[隔开]；

例句
...an abortive attempt to prevent the current President from taking office.
企图阻止现任总统连任的失败尝试

precedent

n. 前例，先例；adj. 在前的，在先的；

例句
An east London school has set a precedent by fining pupils who break the rules.
伦敦东区的一所学校开创了对违反校规的学生处以罚金的先例。