资料来源 : pyDict

更重要的,较早的,在先的居先院长

资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Prior \Pri"or\, a.
   First, precedent, or superior in the order of cognition,
   reason or generality, origin, development, rank, etc.

Prior \Pri"or\, a. [L. prior former, previous, better, superior;
   compar. corresponding to primus first, and pro for. See
   {Former}, and cf. {Prime}, a., and {Pre-}, {Pro-}.]
   Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior;
   previous; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; -- used
   elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in
   the time] prior to his marriage.

Prior \Pri"or\, n. [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F.
   prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See {Prior}, a.]
   (Eccl.)
   The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity.

   {Conventical}, or {Conventual}, {prior}, a prior who is at
      the head of his own house. See the Note under {Priory}.

   {Claustral prior}, an official next in rank to the abbot in a
      monastery; prior of the cloisters.

资料来源 : WordNet®

prior
     n : the head of a religious order; in an abbey the prior is next
         below the abbot

prior
     adj : earlier in time [syn: {anterior}, {prior(a)}]