1. (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.

2. (n.) The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity.

ahead ancient antecedent anterior anticipatory before chief ci-devant earlier early elder erstwhile ex exordial first fore foregoing foremost former forward heading headmost immemorial inaugural initiatory last late latest leading old olden older once onetime past precedent preceding precessional precurrent precursory preexistent prefatory prehistoric preliminary preludial prelusive preparatory prevenient previous previous to prime primeval primitive prior to proemial propaedeutic quondam recent senior sometime then till until whilom