prior: Prior the ecclesiastical rank [11] and prior ‘previous’ [18] are ultimately the same word. Both go back to Latin prior ‘former, superior’, a comparative formation based on the Old Latin preposition pri ‘before’. This came in postclassical times to be used as a noun meaning ‘superior officer, administrator’, and it was taken over as such into the terminology of the monastic foundations.
prior (adj.)
"earlier," 1714, from Latin prior "former, previous, first;" figuratively "superior, better;" as a noun "forefather; superior rank;" comparative of Old Latin pri "before," from PIE *prai-, *prei-, from root *per- (1) "forward, through" (see per).
prior (n.)
"superior officer of a religious house or order," late Old English, from Medieval Latin prior "superior officer," noun use of Latin adjective meaning "former, superior" (see prior (adj.)). As short for prior arrest, by 1990, American English.
实用例句
1. Prior to his Japan trip, he went to New York.
在去日本之前，他去了纽约。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Just phone in your order three or more days prior to departure.
在出发的三天之前打电话预订即可。
来自柯林斯例句
3. For the prior year, they reported net income of $1.1 million.
他们公布上一年度纯收入为110万美元。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Although not essential, some prior knowledge of statistics is desirable.
统计学的知识虽非必要，但最好是学过一点。
来自《权威词典》
5. Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.