prior

pri-or

Latin

Etymology

From Proto-Italic *priōs, from earlier *prijōs, from *pri + *-jōs, thus the comparative degree of Old Latin *pri (“before”), from Proto-Italic *pri from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“beyond”), *pró (“before”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈpri.or/, [ˈpriɔr]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈpri.or/, [ˈpriːor]

Adjective

prior (neuter prius, superlative prīmus); third-declension comparative adjective

1. former, prior, previous (preceding in time) [ quotations ▼]

   priore anno ― the year before, the previous year; during the year before

   priore aestate ― the previous summer

   priore nocte ― the previous night

2. the first, the original
3. in front
4. (figuratively) better, superior
5. (substantive, Medieval Latin) abbot, prior

Usage notes

• This adjective has no positive form; rather, it serves as the comparative (prior) and superlative (prīmus) of the preposition prae. (Compare the preposition post, with comparative posterior and superlative postremus).