previous English · revision 3246

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1621|origins=la prae, la via}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpriː.vi.əs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|praevius|t=going before, leading the way]] with the suffix [[-ous]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004) from [[m|la|prae-|t=before]] and [[m|la|via|t=road, way]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[ine-pro|*wegh-]].^(AHD 2000) It is related to [[via]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Coming before in time or order”: 1621 according to Merriam-Webster,^(MWU 2024) 1625 according to Barnhart and the OED,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) or the 1620s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Going before, leading the way”, from 1658, is obsolete.^(OED 1989) In parliamentary procedure the ''previous question'', from 1700–15, is the motion whether the main question shall now be put to a vote.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''Previous to'', “before”, is from 1719.^(OED 1989) At Cambridge the ''Previous Examination'' was the first examination for the B.A., from 1828.^(OED 1989) In colloquial use, first American, ''previous'' means “premature, too hasty”, from 1885.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) In slang ''previous'' or ''previous convictions'' is a criminal record, from 1935.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1621 – coming before.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1658 – leading the way (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1700–15 – the ''previous question''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1719 – ''previous to''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1885 – premature (US colloquial).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1935 – previous convictions (slang).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Existing or happening before something else; [[prior]]: ''the previous day''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(informal)'' Done too soon; [[premature]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(British slang)'' A criminal record.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[previously]]

+ * [[previousness]]

+ * [[previous question]]

+ * [[previous to]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[via]]

+ * [[obvious]]

+ * [[pervious]]

+ * [[impervious]]

+ * [[deviate]]

+ * [[trivial]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Devon dialect ''previous'' meant “early”: “I'm a little previous this morning”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}