歴代

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 歴代, read れきだい, combines historical succession 歴 with generation or tenure 代 to group successive holders.
• Basic usage: It refers to successive holders of the same position, as in 歴代校長 or 歴代の店主.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Grammar and combinations
  • It presupposes a chronological succession of holders rather than any group of people from one period.