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Definition of prior - 9 dictionary results
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pri⋅or

1  [prahy-er]
Use prior in a Sentence
–adjective
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.
–noun
3. Informal. a prior conviction.
—Idiom
4. prior to, preceding; before: Prior to that time, buffalo had roamed the Great Plains in tremendous numbers.
Origin:
1705–15; < L: former, elder, superior (adj.), before (adv.); akin to prime, pre-

Related forms:
pri⋅or⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. anterior, antecedent.
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pri⋅or

2  [prahy-er]
–noun
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.
Origin:
bef. 1100; ME, late OE < ML, LL: one superior in rank; n. use of prior prior 1

Related forms:
pri⋅or⋅ship, noun

Pri⋅or

  [prahy-er]
–noun
Matthew, 1664–1721, English poet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To prior
pri·or 1   (prī'ər)   
adj.  

  1. Preceding in time or order: "[They] insist that foreign vessels seeking access obtain prior approval" (Seymour M. Hersh).

  2. Preceding in importance or value: a prior consideration.


[Latin; see prior2.]
pri'or·ly adv.
pri·or 2   (prī'ər)   
n.  

  1. A monastic officer in charge of a priory or ranking next below the abbot of an abbey.

  2. One of the ruling magistrates of the medieval Italian republic of Florence.


[Middle English priour, from Old English and Old French prior, both from Medieval Latin, from Latin, superior; see per1 in Indo-European roots.]
pri'or·ate (-ĭt), pri'or·ship' (-shĭp') n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
prior

  1. n.
    a prior arrest. (Underworld.) : This guy has about fifteen priors.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

prior  (adj.)
1714, from L. prior "former, superior," comparative of Old L. pri "before" (see prime), related to L. præ "before" (see pre-).

prior  (n.)
"superior officer of a religious house or order," 1093, from L. prior "former, superior" (see prior (adj.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: pri·or
Pronunciation: 'prI-&r
Function: adjective
1 : earlier in time or order
2 : taking precedence (as in importance) prior lien>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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