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. Minister Jan Mladek:

   Representatives of NWR submitted, immediately prior to the meeting, a request for such a financial commitment by the state that I consider to be so serious that it will be necessary to analyse it in detail on the expert level.

2. Prince Ali:

   The timing of this MOU( memorandum of understanding) between the AFC and the CAF looks like a blatant attempt to engineer a bloc vote, questions must be asked : was this deal approved by the members of the executive committees of both the AFC and CAF and is the timing of the announcement, prior to a presidential election, acceptable ?

3. The IRS:

   I believe this lack of notice may not satisfy taxpayers' due process rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution because taxpayers do not have a meaningful opportunity to contest the certifications prior to them taking place.

4. James Cameron:

   Prior to the COVID-19, everything was on track to bring you the first sequel in December of 2021. Unfortunately, due to the impact that the pandemic has had on our schedule it is no longer possible for us to make that date, there is no one more disappointed about this delay than me.

5. Matt Powell:

   The resale platforms give buyers and sellers a secure and convenient way to trade sneakers, prior to the platforms, sales were much more complicated and risky.

Images & Illustrations of prior

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