a. - Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; -- used elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior to his marriage.
a. - The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity.
a. - First, precedent, or superior in the order of cognition, reason or generality, origin, development, rank, etc.