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pri•or

Pronunciation: (prī'ur), [key]
—adj.
1. preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous: A prior agreement prevents me from accepting this.
2. preceding in importance or privilege.
3. prior to, preceding; before: Prior to that time, buffalo had roamed the Great Plains in tremendous numbers.

—n.
Informal.a prior conviction.

pri•or

Pronunciation: (prī'ur), [key]
—n.
1. an officer in a monastic order or religious house, sometimes next in rank below an abbot.
2. a chief magistrate, as in the medieval republic of Florence.