PRIOR


Meaning of PRIOR in English

~ 1

■ adjective existing or coming before in time, order, or importance.

■ noun N. Amer. informal a previous criminal conviction.

Phrases

~ to before.

Origin

C18: from L., lit. 'former, elder', related to prae 'before'.

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~ 2

■ noun ( fem. ~ess )

1》 (in an abbey) the person next in rank below an abbot (or abbess).

2》 the head of a house of friars (or nuns).

Derivatives

~ate noun

~ship noun

Origin

OE, from a med. L. noun use of L. ~ (see ~ 1 ).

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.