Definition of PRIOR

prior

Meanings

Plural: priors

Noun

  • the head of a religious order; in an abbey the prior is next below the abbot
  • A prior probability distribution, that is, one determined without knowledge of the occurrence of other events that bear on it, before additional data is collected.
  • A prior probability distribution, that is, one determined without knowledge of the occurrence of other events that bear on it, before additional data is collected.
  • In the rationalsphere: a belief supported by previous evidence or experience that one can use to make inferences about the future.
  • A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's criminal record.
  • A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.
  • In an abbey, the person ranking just after the abbot, appointed as his deputy; a prior claustral.
  • A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.
  • The head of a priory (“a monastery which is usually a branch of an abbey”), or some other minor or smaller monastery; a prior conventual.
  • A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.
  • The head friar of a house of friars.
  • A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.
  • The head of the Arrouaisian, Augustinian, and formerly Premonstratensian religious orders.
  • A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.
  • An honorary position held by a priest in some cathedrals.
  • A chief magistrate of the Republic of Florence (1115–1569) in what is now Italy.
  • The elected head of a guild of craftsmen or merchants in some countries in Europe and South America.
  • A person who is the earliest or most prominent in a field; the chief.
  • The head of a company.

Adjective Satellite

  • earlier in time

Adj

  • Coming before in order or time; earlier, former, previous.
  • More important or significant.
  • Chiefly in prior probability: of the probability of an event: determined without knowledge of the occurrence of other events that bear on it, before additional data is collected.

Adv

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

Origin / Etymology

The adjective is a learned borrowing from Latin prior (“earlier, former, previous, prior; in front; (figurative) better, superior”), from Proto-Italic *priōs (“earlier, previous”, literally “more before”), ultimately from *pri (“before”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pró (“leading to, toward”) and its etymon *per- (“before, in front; first”)) + *-jōs (suffix forming comparative adjectives). Doublet of before, fore, and former.
The adverb and noun are derived from the adjective.

Antonyms

posterior

Scrabble Score: 7

prior is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
prior is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
prior is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

prior is a valid Words With Friends word