prior
Preceding, as in the order of time, of thought, of origin, of dignity, or of importance; in law, senior in point of time: as, a prior and a junior incumbrance.
Previous: used adverbially, followed by to, like
A superior officer; a superior.
nounFormerly, in Italy, a chief magistrate, as in the medieval republic of Florence.
nounSynonyms Abbot, Prior. See def. .
adjectivePreceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous
adjectiveFirst, precedent, or superior in the order of cognition, reason or generality, origin, development, rank, etc.
nouna prior conviction; — said of an accused criminal.
nounThe superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity.
nouna chief magistrate, as in the republic of Florence in the middle ages.