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prior
01
happening or existing before something else
Examples
They discussed the prior agreements before finalizing the contract.
He had a prior engagement and could n't attend the meeting.
Examples
In prior years, the festival was much smaller, but it has grown significantly.
The team reviewed the prior year's performance to identify areas for improvement.
03
more important or urgent than something else, often due to being first in time or order
Examples
They have a prior claim to the property, as their agreement was signed before anyone else ’s.
Her prior rights to the land must be considered before any new development can take place.
Prior
01
the head or leader of a religious order or community
Examples
The prior was responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the abbey, just below the authority of the abbot.
After the abbot retired, the prior temporarily took over leadership of the monastery.
1.1
the second-in-command in a monastery, ranking just below the abbot
Examples
The prior oversaw daily operations of the monastery while the abbot focused on spiritual leadership.
After the abbot fell ill, the prior took on more administrative duties within the monastery.
02
a previous arrest or conviction for a crime, indicating a history of legal offenses on someone's criminal record
Dialect
American
American
InformalExamples
The judge took into account his priors when determining the sentence for the recent crime.
Because of his priors, he faced harsher penalties than a first-time offender would.
Lexical Tree
priorly
prior
