Pri"or (?), a. First, precedent, or superior in the order
of cognition, reason or generality, origin, development, rank,
etc.
Pri"or , n. [OE.
priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F.
prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See Prior, a.]
(Eccl.) The superior of a
priory, and next below an
abbot in dignity.
Conventical, or Conventual, prior, a prior who is
at the head
of his own house. See the Note under Priory. --
Claustral prior,
an official next in rank
to the abbot in a monastery; prior of the cloisters.
Pri"or (?), a. [L. prior former, previous, better, superior; compar. corresponding to primus first, and pro for. See Former, and cf. Prime, a., and Pre-, Pro-.]
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.
Hear it pronounced