prior

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the head of a religious order

   in an abbey the prior is next below the abbot

2. 2
   adj

   Coming before in order or time; earlier, former, previous.

   His prior residence was smaller than his current one.

3. 3
   adv

   Chiefly followed by to: in advance, before, previously.

   The doctor had known three months prior.

4. 4
   noun

   A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's criminal record.

   And a little later we get the routine report on his prints from Washington, and he's got a prior back in Indiana, attempted hold-up six years ago.

5. 5
   noun

   A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.

   It is not yet an hundred yere a goe, ſince that ſame mayſter doctour was butler in the ſame houſe, whereof I was maiſter and praiour: […]

6. 6
   noun

   A chief magistrate of the Republic of Florence (1115–1569) in what is now Italy.

   [F]irſt of all among themſelves of the ancienteſt they chuſe three heads or chiefs vvhich they call Priors; and alſo of the youngeſt among them they chuſe tvvo vvho perform the office of Secretaries. The Priors ſit dovvn, having before them a table upon vvhich are placed tvvo balloting boxes of that ſort that are uſed in the Great Council; in one of vvhich are put 40 balls, marked vvith a certain mark, that no deceit may be uſed. The reſt of the 41 ſit alſo dovvn, each vvhere he pleaſes. […] Then they are called one by one before the three Priors, and each one vvrites in his Schedule the name of him vvhom he vvould have to be Duke, and leaves it upon the table.

7. 7
   adj

   earlier in time

8. 8
   adj

   More important or significant.

Etymology

From Middle English priour, prior (“head or deputy head of a monastery or other religious house; predecessor; superior”), from Old English prior, from Anglo-Norman priour, prior, priur, and Old French prior, priur (modern French prieur), and directly from their etymon Latin prior (“ancestor; predecessor”) (whence Late Latin prior (“superior of a religious house or order; abbot; deputy abbot; head of a guild”)), a noun use of prior (“former, previous, prior”, adjective): see etymology 1.