previous, foregoing, preceding, prior, former

名詞 prior:

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

形容詞 prior:

1. earlier in time
   同義詞：anterior

1. I appreciate that you may have prior commitments.
   我體諒你可能事先已另有承諾。
2. It happened prior to my arrival.
   這發(fā)生在我到達之前。
3. I fear that a prior engagement will prohibit me from joining you in dinner.
   有約在先，我恐怕不能與你共進晚餐。
4. I was unable to attend the meeting because of a prior engagement.
   我因有約在先，所以未能參加這個會。
5. All the arrangements should have been completed prior to our departure.
   全部安排都應該在我們出發(fā)之前完成。

prior

adj.（形容詞）
Preceding in time or order:
在前的，在先的：在時間或次序上居先的：
例句：
.[They] insist that foreign vessels seeking access obtain prior approval. (Seymour M. Hersh)
.[他們] 堅持要求通過的外國交通工具應事先取得同意. (西摩M.赫什)

Preceding in importance or value:
更重要的，優(yōu)先的：重要性或價值居先的：
例句：
a prior consideration.
優(yōu)先考慮

來源：
Latin * see prior 2
拉丁語 *參見 prior2

【引伸】
pri.orly
adv.（副詞）

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

n.（名詞）
A monastic officer in charge of a priory or ranking next below the abbot of an abbey.
小隱修院院長或大隱修院副院長
One of the ruling magistrates of the medieval Italian republic of Florence.
最高執(zhí)政官：中世紀意大利的佛羅倫薩共和國的最高執(zhí)政官

來源：
Middle English priour
中古英語 priour
from Old English
源自 古英語
Old French prior
古法語 prior
both from Medieval Latin
都源自 中世紀拉丁語
from Latin [superior] * see per
源自 拉丁語 [高于，優(yōu)于…的] *參見 per

【引伸】
pri.orate