Definition of the word prior

The word "prior" has its roots in Latin. It comes from the Latin word "priorem," which means "former" or "previous." In Latin, the prefix "pri-" means "before" or "earlier," and the suffix "-or" forms a noun meaning "one who has done something." In English, the word "prior" arrived through Middle English from Old French "prieur," which was derived from Latin "priorem." Initially, "prior" referred to a person who came before another in a particular order or rank. Over time, its meaning expanded to include a sense of superiority or precedence, as in a prior claim or a prior decision. Today, "prior" is used in various contexts, including business, law, and everyday conversation, to indicate a precedent or a situation that has occurred before.