Prior

prī′or, adj. former: previous: coming before in time.— n. the head of a priory: (in Italy) formerly a chief magistrate:— fem. Prī′ore .— ns. Prī′orāte , Prī′orship , the government or office of a prior: the time during which a prior is in office; Prior′ity , state of being prior or first in time, place, or rank: preference; Prī′ory , a convent of either sex, under a prior or priore , and next in rank below an abbey. [L. prior , former, comp. from pro- , in front.]