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