prior

The noun prior, a monastic superior, came into Old English from Medieval Latin, while the adjective prior, “earlier”, was borrowed directly from Latin in the 18th century; both go back to Latin prior “former, superior”.^[1][2][3]

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈpraɪ.ə/, US /ˈpraɪ.ɚ/^[4]

prior¹ monastic superior

Etymology

The monastic superior is inherited from Middle English priour, prior,^[1][3] from late Old English prior,^[5][1] borrowed from Medieval Latin prior (“superior officer”),^[1][5] in Late Latin “administrator, predecessor”,^[3] a noun use of Latin prior (“former, superior”).^[1][5] It was reinforced in Middle English by Old French priur, prior (modern prieur).^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A superior officer of a religious house or order: 1093,^[1][6] with the Middle English form first recorded in 1123.^[1]

Semantic evolution

In an abbey the prior ranks next below the abbot, and in a priory he is the head.^[6][7] In some former Italian republics, such as Florence, the priors were chief magistrates, from 1604.^[6] A superior in general is from about 1380, after Latin prior in the Vulgate, and in commerce the head of a firm from 1853, now rare.^[6] Prioress is from about 1300 and priory from the 13th century.^[1][2] In American English prior is also short for a prior arrest or conviction, from 1990.^[5]

Timeline

• 1093 – a monastic superior.^[1][6]
• c. 1300 – prioress.^[1]
• 1604 – a Florentine magistrate.^[6]
• 1990 – a prior conviction (US).^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A monk in charge of a priory, or ranking next below the abbot of an abbey.
2. One of the chief magistrates of the medieval republic of Florence.
3. (US, informal) A previous criminal conviction.

Word family

• prioress
• priory
• priorate

prior² earlier

Etymology

The adjective is borrowed from Latin prior (“former, previous, first; superior”),^[5][1] the comparative of Old Latin prī “before”,^[5][1][3] from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“forward, before, first”).^[5] It is related to prae (“before”) and prīscus (“ancient”).^[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Preceding in time or order, earlier: 1714, often followed by to.^[6][1][5] Merriam-Webster dates the adjective to 1607.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Preceding in importance is a further sense.^[7][8] Prior to is used as a preposition meaning “before”, adverbially by 1706.^[5] Priority is much older, from about 1385.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 1385 – priority.^[1]
• 1706 – prior to, before.^[5]
• 1714 – earlier, preceding.^[6][1]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Earlier in time or order; previous.
2. More important; taking precedence.

Word family

• priority
• prioritize
• prior to

Related words

• a priori
• prime
• prince
• pristine
• pre-

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
2. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
8. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press