n.
Pronunciation: ' pr ī (- ə )r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English & Anglo-French; both from Medieval Latin, from Late Latin, administrator, from Latin, former, superior
Date: before 12th century
1 : the superior ranking next to the abbot of a monastery
2 : the superior of a house or group of houses of any of various religious communities
– pri · or · ate \ ' pr ī - ə -r ə t \ noun
– pri · or · ship \ ' pr ī (- ə )r- ˌ ship \ noun