PRIOR

prior 1

— priorly , adv.

/pruy"euhr/ , adj.

1. preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous: A prior agreement prevents me from accepting this.

2. preceding in importance or privilege.

3. prior to , preceding; before: Prior to that time, buffalo had roamed the Great Plains in tremendous numbers.

n.

4. Informal. a prior conviction.

[ 1705-15; ]

Syn. 1. anterior, antecedent.

prior 2

— priorship , n.

/pruy"euhr/ , n.

1. an officer in a monastic order or religious house, sometimes next in rank below an abbot.

2. a chief magistrate, as in the medieval republic of Florence.

[ bef. 1100; ME, late OE prior PRIOR 1 ]