Lexic.us

Definition of Prior

1. Adjective. Earlier in time.

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

Definition of Prior

1. a. 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.

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

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

Definition of Prior

1. Adjective. Of that which comes before, in advance. ¹

2. Adjective. former, previous ¹

3. Adverb. (colloquial) Previously. ¹

4. Noun. A high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot. ¹

5. Noun. (legal) A previous criminal offense on someone's record. ¹

6. Noun. (statistics) In Bayesian inference, a prior probability distribution. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Prior

1. an officer in a monastery [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Prior

printmaking printmakings printout printouts prints printshop printshops printworker printworkers printworks

prion prion protein prionaemia prionic prions prior (current term) prior(a) prior art prior knowledge prior probability

prior to priorate priorates prioress prioresses priories priorities prioritisation prioritisations prioritise

Literary usage of Prior

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The History of the Reformation of the Church of England by Gilbert Burnet, Edward Nares (1843)
"Yorksh. the prior and 9 Frat. 17. Warwick, Dominic, the prior and 6 Frat. 20. ... August, the prior and IS Frat. 1«. Francis, the Warden and td Frat. ..."

2. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"prior made his way chiefly by his wit and social qualities. ... prior, the chief coadjutor of an abbot in the government of an abbey, or the actual ruler of ..."

3. Publications by English Dialect Society (1886)
"prior, p. 28. (2) Pimpinella Saxifraga, L.—prior, p. 28. (1) Sagina procumbens, L.—Pratt. (4) 'More particularly the genus Saxifraga."'—prior, p. ..."

4. Publications by Oxford Historical Society (1907)
"London., die ... Sept., anno 1458'. 9. Betw. Tho. Goodwyn, prior of the House & Church of S'. Laurence of Blakemore, Com. Ess., &c., & W™ Pascali, ..."

5. Dictionary of National Biography by LESLIE. STEPHEN (1896)
"This journey prior described in a ' Voyage in the Indian Seas in the N ¡sus ... His next expedition, in the same was to Table Bay (February 1812), prior was ..."

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