prior /ˈpraɪə/ CET4 TEM4

• 1. 

  ADJ You use prior to indicate that something has already happened, or must happen, before another event takes place. 事先的 [ADJ n]

  例：

  He claimed he had no prior knowledge of the protest.

  他声称他事先对那次抗议一无所知。

  例：

  The Constitution requires the president to seek the prior approval of Congress for military action.

  宪法要求总统寻求国会对军事行动的事先批准。

• 2. 

  ADJ A prior claim or duty is more important than other claims or duties and needs to be dealt with first. 优先的 [ADJ n]

  例：

  The firm I wanted to use had prior commitments.

  我选择的那家公司有优先承诺。

• 3. 

  N a prior probability 先验的 [statistics]

• 4. 

  N the superior of a house and community in certain religious orders (一些宗教教派中的社区)长老; 德高望重者

• 5. 

  PHRASE If something happens prior to a particular time or event, it happens before that time or event. 在 (某时间或事件) 之前 [正式]

  例：

  A death prior to 65 is considered to be a premature death.

  65岁以前的死亡被认为是过早死亡。