prior

   prior neut. prius, ōris, adj. comp. (for sup. see primus)    [PRO-], former, previous, prior, first : me quaestorem in primis, aedilem priorem, praetorem primum populus R. faciebat: qui prior has angustias occupaverit, first , Cs.: exercitus, L.: priore loco causam dicere, first : priore aestate, last summer : prioribus comitiis: priore anno, the preceding year , L.: Dionysius prior, the elder , N.: pedes, the forefeet , N.—Plur m . as subst, forefathers, ancestors, the ancients : abiturus illuc, quo priores abierunt, Ph.: nomen dixere priores Ortygiam, V.: more priorum, O.—Fig., better, superior, preferable, more excellent : color puniceae flore prior rosae, H.: ut nemo haberetur prior, L.: aetate et sapientiā, S.: quanto prius potiusque est . . . quam, etc., L.—Plur f . as subst . (only acc; sc. partīs), superior rank, preference, lead : etsi utrique primas, priores tamen libenter deferunt Laelio.

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I

prioris N M

superior/elder monk; (later) second in dignity to abbot/head of priory, prior

II

prioris N M

ancestors (pl.), forefathers, predecessors, people of an earlier time