prior

1. not comparableComing before in order or time; earlier, former, previous.

   I had no prior knowledge you were coming.

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   His prior residence was smaller than his current one.

   Since therefore 'tis poſſible for all objects to become cauſes or effects to each other, it may be proper to fix ſome general rules, by vvhich vve may knovv vvhen they really are ſo. […] 2. The cauſe must be prior to the effect.

   1739, [David Hume], “Rules by which to Judge of Causes and Effects”, in A Treatise of Human Nature: […], book I (Of the Understanding), London: […] John Noon, […], →OCLC, part III (Of Knowledge and Probability), pages 303–304

   Lady Marney, duly warned of the impending catastrophe, was experiencing all the advantages of prior information.

   1845, B[enjamin] Disraeli, chapter VI, in Sybil; or The Two Nations. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, book I, page 83

   "As these busts in the block of marble," though Miriam, "so does our individual fate exist in the limestone of time. We fancy that we carve it out; but its ultimate shape is prior to all our action."

   1860, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “A Sculptor’s Studio”, in The Marble Faun: Or, The Romance of Monte Beni. […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, pages 148–149

   These reconstructions took place with so great ease and rapidity at Abbeville, […] that there is now scarce vestige left of any building prior to the fifteenth century.

   1886, John Ruskin, “Rome”, in Præterita. Outlines of Scenes and Thoughts Perhaps Worthy of Memory in My Past Life, volume I, Orpington, Kent: George Allen, →OCLC, page 280

   Synonyms: advance, antecedent, anterior, antecedent, anterior, earlier, erstwhile, ex

2. not comparableMore important or significant.
3. not comparableBayesian statisticsChiefly 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.

comparative more prior · superlative most prior

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

   The doctor had known three months prior.

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   From the opening shots of the anonymous young Winterfell boy rushing to catch a glimpse of Jon Snow and Queen Daenerys Targaryen, hearkening back to those moments of the very first episode in which Arya rushed to do the same with an approaching King Robert Baratheon, the series is calling back to its beginning, suggesting (at least for now) that the wheel continues to turn, sending us back into a pattern begun seven seasons prior.

   2019 April 14, Alex McLevy, “Winter is Here on Game of Thrones’ Final Season Premiere (Newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 18 Dec 2020

   Synonyms: ago, hitherto

plural priors

1. Bayesian statisticsA prior probability distribution, that is, one determined without knowledge of the occurrence of other events that bear on it, before additional data is collected.First known use 20th c.

   Antonyms: posterior

   1. broadlyBayesian statisticsIn the rationalsphere: a belief supported by previous evidence or experience that one can use to make inferences about the future.

      The votes are in, and our priors are confirmed. The truth is that midterms are nearly as predictable as death and taxes: The party that controls the White House always loses and often badly at that.

      2022 November 8, Alex Shephard, “The Cards were always Stacked against Democrats”, in Michael Tomasky, editor, The New Republic, New York, N.Y.: The Republic Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 04 Oct 2023

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      During each of these touchpoints, I'm asking myself where and how my thesis on each holding could be wrong. I'm checking each data point as it comes in against my priors. I'm comparing management behavior to what I would be doing if I were in their shoes.

      2022 July 29, Dan Roller, “Maran Partners Fund Q2 2022 Letter”, in Seeking Alpha, archived from the original on 08 Dec 2022

      Antonyms: posterior

2. CanadaUSin pluralgovernmentA previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's criminal record.First known use 19th c.

   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.

   1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, published 1966, →OCLC, page 47

   Synonyms: antecedent

plural priors · alternative priour

1. A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.
   1. ChristianityIn an abbey, the person ranking just after the abbot, appointed as his deputy; a prior claustral.

      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: […]

      1532, Thomas More, “The Confutacion of [William] Tyndale’s Aunswere […]. The Eyght Booke in which is Confuted Doctour [Robert] Barnes Church.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, page 791, column 1

      Synonyms: dean, provost

   2. ChristianityThe head of a priory (“a monastery which is usually a branch of an abbey”), or some other minor or smaller monastery; a prior conventual.
   3. ChristianityThe head friar of a house of friars.
   4. ChristianityThe head of the Arrouaisian, Augustinian, and formerly Premonstratensian religious orders.
   5. ChristianityAn honorary position held by a priest in some cathedrals.

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      [I]t hath appertained to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York for the space of four hundred years or thereabouts to have spiritual jurisdiction over all your Grace's subjects dwelling within the provinces; […] in the meantime of vacation the same privilege resteth in the churches of Canterbury and York; and is executed by the prior, dean and chapter of the said churches; […]

      1856, James Anthony Froude, “The Parliament of 1529”, in History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth, volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker and Son, […], →OCLC, pages 216–217

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

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   [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.

   1673, John Ray, “Of Venice”, in Observations Topographical, Moral, & Physiological; Made in a Journey through part of the Low-countries, Germany, Italy, and France: […], London: […] John Martyn, printer to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC, page 184

3. historicalThe elected head of a guild of craftsmen or merchants in some countries in Europe and South America.
4. obsoleteA person who is the earliest or most prominent in a field; the chief.
5. obsoletebusinessThe head of a company.

alternative Pryor

1. A surname originating as an occupation for someone employed by a prior.
2. An unincorporated community in Douglas County, Missouri, United States.