Prior \Pri"or\, n.
   a prior conviction; -- said of an accused criminal.
   [informal]
   [PJC]

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-}.]
   1. 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.
      
[1913 Webster]


   2. First, precedent, or superior in the order of cognition,
      reason or generality, origin, development, rank, etc.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Prior \Pri"or\, n. [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F.
   prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See {Prior}, a.]
   1. (Eccl.) The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot
      in dignity.
      
[1913 Webster]


   2. a chief magistrate, as in the republic of Florence in the
      middle ages. --[RHUD]
      [PJC]

   {Conventical prior}, 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.
      
[1913 Webster]