prior

previous, foregoing, preceding, prior, former

名词 prior:

1. the head of a religious order; in an abbey the prior is next below the abbot

形容词 prior:

1. earlier in time
   同义词：anterior

1. I appreciate that you may have prior commitments.
   我体谅你可能事先已另有承诺。
2. It happened prior to my arrival.
   这发生在我到达之前。
3. I fear that a prior engagement will prohibit me from joining you in dinner.
   有约在先，我恐怕不能与你共进晚餐。
4. I was unable to attend the meeting because of a prior engagement.
   我因有约在先，所以未能参加这个会。
5. All the arrangements should have been completed prior to our departure.
   全部安排都应该在我们出发之前完成。

prior

adj.（形容词）
Preceding in time or order:
在前的，在先的：在时间或次序上居先的：
例句：
.[They] insist that foreign vessels seeking access obtain prior approval. (Seymour M. Hersh)
.[他们] 坚持要求通过的外国交通工具应事先取得同意. (西摩M.赫什)

Preceding in importance or value:
更重要的，优先的：重要性或价值居先的：
例句：
a prior consideration.
优先考虑

来源：
Latin * see prior 2
拉丁语 *参见 prior2

【引伸】
pri.orly
adv.（副词）

---------------另--------------
prior
prior 2

n.（名词）
A monastic officer in charge of a priory or ranking next below the abbot of an abbey.
小隐修院院长或大隐修院副院长
One of the ruling magistrates of the medieval Italian republic of Florence.
最高执政官：中世纪意大利的佛罗伦萨共和国的最高执政官

来源：
Middle English priour
中古英语 priour
from Old English
源自 古英语
Old French prior
古法语 prior
both from Medieval Latin
都源自 中世纪拉丁语
from Latin [superior] * see per
源自 拉丁语 [高于，优于…的] *参见 per

【引伸】
pri.orate