In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
PRIOR
anterior, prior
(adjective) earlier in time
prior
(noun) the head of a religious order; in an abbey the prior is next below the abbot
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Proper noun
Prior
An occupational surname for someone employed by a prior.
Etymology
Adjective
prior (not comparable)
Advance; previous; coming before.
Former, previous.
Usage notes
• The etymological antonym is ulterior (from Latin; compare primate/ultimate for “first/last”). This is now no longer used, however, and there is no corresponding antonym. Typically either subsequent or posterior is used, but these form different pairs – precedent/subsequent and anterior/posterior – and are more formal than prior. When an opposing pair is needed, these can be used, or other pairs such as former/latter or previous/next.
Synonyms
• anterior
• See also former
Antonyms
• posterior
Adverb
prior (comparative more prior, superlative most prior)
(colloquial) Previously.
Synonyms: ago, hitherto
Noun
prior (plural priors)
A high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot.
(historical) A chief magistrate in Italy.
(US, law enforcement) A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's record. [from 19th c.]
(statistics) In Bayesian inference, a prior probability distribution, one based on information or belief before additional data is collected. [from 20th c.]
Synonyms
• (second-in-command to an abbot): provost
Coordinate terms
• (statistics): posterior
Source: Wiktionary
Pri"or, a. Etym: [L. prior former, previous, better, superior; compar. corresponding to primus first, and pro for. See Former, and cf. Prime, a., and Pre-, Pro-.]
Definition: 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.
Pri"or, n. Etym: [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F. prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See Prior, a.] (Eccl.)
Definition: The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity. Conventical, or Conventual, prior, a prior who is at the head of his own house. See the Note under Priory.
– Claustral prior, an official next in rank to the abbot in a monastery; prior of the cloisters.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
5 May 2025
UNEXPLOITED
(adjective) not developed, improved, exploited or used; “vast unexploited (or undeveloped) natural resources”; “taxes on undeveloped lots are low”
Coffee Trivia
