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Prior Prior, derived from the Latin for “earlier, first”, (or prioress for nuns) is an ecclesiastical title for a superior, usually lower in rank than an abbot or abbess. Its earlier generic usage referred to any monastic superior. 
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Previous (adjective) Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order. “He is no better than the previous Prime Minister.” 
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Previous (adjective) Premature; acting or occurring too soon. 
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Previous (noun) An existing criminal record (short for “previous convictions”) “It turned out the shoplifter had a lot of previous.” 
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Previous (noun) a track record of similar behaviour. 
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Prior (adjective) Advance; previous; coming before. “I had no prior knowledge you were coming.” 
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Prior (adjective) Former, previous. “His prior residence was smaller than his current one.” 
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Prior (adverb) Previously. “The doctor had known three months prior.” 
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Prior (noun) A high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot. 
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Prior (noun) A chief magistrate in Italy. 
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Prior (noun) A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone’s record. from 19th c. 
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Prior (noun) In Bayesian inference, a prior probability distribution, one based on information or belief before additional data is collected. from 20th c. 
 
					