prior
1
[ prahy-er ]
/ ˈpraɪ ər /
adjective
preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous: A prior agreement prevents me from accepting this.
preceding in importance or privilege.
noun
Informal.
a prior conviction.
Idioms for prior
prior to,
preceding; before: Prior to that time, buffalo had roamed the Great Plains in tremendous numbers.
Origin of prior
1OTHER WORDS FROM prior
pri·or·ly, adverbWords nearby prior
Definition for prior (2 of 3)
prior
2
[ prahy-er ]
/ ˈpraɪ ər /
noun
an officer in a monastic order or religious house, sometimes next in rank below an abbot.
a chief magistrate, as in the medieval republic of Florence.
Origin of prior
2
before 1100; Middle English, late Old English < Medieval Latin, Late Latin: one superior in rank; noun use of
prior
prior1
OTHER WORDS FROM prior
pri·or·ship, noun sub·pri·or·ship, nounDefinition for prior (3 of 3)
Prior
[ prahy-er ]
/ ˈpraɪ ər /
noun
Matthew,1664–1721,
English poet.
Example sentences from the Web for prior
British Dictionary definitions for prior (1 of 3)
prior
1
/ (ˈpraɪə) /
adjective
(prenominal)
previous; preceding
prior to
before; until
noun
statistics
a prior probability
Word Origin for prior
C18: from Latin: previous
British Dictionary definitions for prior (2 of 3)
prior
2
/ (ˈpraɪə) /
noun
the superior of a house and community in certain religious orders
the deputy head of a monastery or abbey, ranking immediately below the abbot
(formerly) a chief magistrate in medieval Florence and other Italian republics
Word Origin for prior
C11: from Late Latin: head, from Latin (adj): previous, from Old Latin
pri before
British Dictionary definitions for prior (3 of 3)
Prior
/ (ˈpraɪə) /
noun
Matthew. 1664–1721, English poet and diplomat, noted for his epigrammatic occasional verse