Definitions for Prior
ˈpraɪ ərPri·or

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. prior(adj)

   the head of a religious order; in an abbey the prior is next below the abbot

2. anterior, prior(a)(adj)

   earlier in time

Wiktionary(3.44 / 9 votes)Rate this definition:

1. prior(Noun)

   A high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot.

   Etymology: From prior

2. prior(Noun)

   A previous criminal offense on someone's record.

   Etymology: From prior

3. prior(Noun)

   In Bayesian inference, a prior probability distribution.

   Etymology: From prior

4. prior(Adverb)

   Previously.

   The doctor had known three months prior.

   Etymology: From prior

5. prior(Adjective)

   Of that which comes before, in advance.

   I had no prior knowledge you were coming.

   Etymology: From prior

6. prior(Adjective)

   former, previous

   His prior residence was smaller than his current one.

   Etymology: From prior

Webster Dictionary(3.83 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Prior(adj)

   preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; -- used elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior to his marriage

   Etymology: [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F. prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See Prior, a.]

2. Prior(adj)

   the superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity

   Etymology: [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F. prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See Prior, a.]

Freebase(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Prior

   Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for "earlier, first", with several notable uses.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Prior

   prī′or, adj. former: previous: coming before in time.—n. the head of a priory: (in Italy) formerly a chief magistrate:—fem. Prī′oress.—ns. Prī′orāte, Prī′orship, the government or office of a prior: the time during which a prior is in office; Prior′ity, state of being prior or first in time, place, or rank: preference; Prī′ory, a convent of either sex, under a prior or prioress, and next in rank below an abbey. [L. prior, former, comp. from pro-, in front.]

British National Corpus

1. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Prior' in Adjectives Frequency: #889

How to pronounce Prior?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say Prior in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Prior in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Prior in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of Prior in a Sentence

1. Prince Ali:

   President Blatter's resignation cannot be dragged out any longer. He must leave now, an interim independent leadership must be appointed to administer the process of the elections, in addition to the reforms that are being discussed prior to the elections.

2. Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen:

   I think we have a far more resilient system now than prior to the financial crisis.

3. Mike Baker:

   British intelligence had a handle on Emwazi's identity for some time prior to the public release of the identity, they've been working the target for awhile, mapping out his associates in the UK, understanding his motivations and path to radicalization and working with Michael Harkins.

4. Harold Henderson:

   While the discipline assessed is indeed greater than in most prior cases, this is arguably one of the most egregious cases of domestic violence in this Commissioner's tenure -- the severe beating of a 4-year old child, with a tree branch, striking him repeatedly about the body and inflicting injuries visible days later.

5. Kenneth Feinberg:

   Look at my prior cases: 97 percent of the victims of Sept. 11 accepted my offer. At GM and BP it was more than 90 percent, too. That has to be my target for VW, it is a purely business transaction, less emotional. I see that from emails I get from vehicle owners, who say things like: 'Mr. Feinberg, I know I haven't lost a relative, I just want to be treated fairly.' They are all quite reasonable.

Images & Illustrations of Prior

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