Preceding, as in the order of time, of thought, of origin, of dignity, or of importance; in law, senior in point of time: as, a prior and a junior incumbrance.

Previous: used adverbially, followed by to, like previous. See previous, a.

noun. A superior officer; a superior.

noun. Formerly, in Italy, a chief magistrate, as in the medieval republic of Florence.

noun. Synonyms Abbot, Prior. See def. .

adjective. Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous

adjective. First, precedent, or superior in the order of cognition, reason or generality, origin, development, rank, etc.

noun. a prior conviction; -- said of an accused criminal.

noun. The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity.

noun. a chief magistrate, as in the republic of Florence in the middle ages.

noun. a prior who is at the head of his own house. See the Note under Priory.

noun. undefined

noun. an official next in rank to the abbot in a monastery; prior of the cloisters.

adjective. Of that which comes before, in advance.

adjective. former, previous

adverb. Previously.

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

adjective. earlier in time

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