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prior

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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
  • 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