prior

Prior means having happened in the past.

(adjective)

An example of prior is a criminal conviction that happened ten years ago.

The definition of a prior is the head of a home where monks live.

(noun)

An example of a prior is the person in charge of a religious house such as a priory.

See prior in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

Origin: L, former, superior, compar. of OL pri, before: see prime

noun

Origin: ME < OE & OFr, both < ML(Ec), a prior < L: see priorthe

Prior, Matthew 1664-1721; Eng. poet

See prior in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Preceding in time or order: “[They] insist that foreign vessels seeking access obtain prior approval” (Seymour M. Hersh).
Preceding in importance or value: a prior consideration.

Origin:

Origin: Latin; see prior²

Related Forms:

noun

A monastic officer in charge of a priory or ranking next below the abbot of an abbey.
One of the ruling magistrates of the medieval Italian republic of Florence.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English priour

Origin: , from Old English

Origin: and Old French prior

Origin: , both from Medieval Latin

Origin: , from Latin, superior; see per¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: