PREVIOUS

previous. Previous, a. going before, prior, antecedent, first

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Pre″vi‐ous (?), a. [[L. praevius going before, leading the way; prae before + via the way. See Voyage.]] Going before in time; being or happening before something else; antecedent; prior; as, previous arrangements; a previous illness. The dull sound . . . previous to the storm, Rolls o'er the muttering earth. Thomson. Previous question. (Parliamentary Practice) See under Question, and compare Closure. — Previous to, before; — often used adverbially for previously. “Previous to publication.” M. Arnold. “A policy . . . his friends had advised previous to 1710.” J. H. Newman. Syn. — Antecedent; preceding; anterior; prior; foregoing; former.