What is the meaning of Prior?

Advance; previous; coming before.

Former, previous.

Previously.

A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's record.

A prior probability distribution, one based on information or belief before additional data is collected.

A belief supported by previous evidence or experience that one can use to make inferences about the future.

A high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot.

A chief magistrate in Italy.

prior (a high-ranking member of a monastery)

former, prior, previous, earlier (preceding in time)

the first, the original

in front

better, superior

abbot, prior

prior (a high-ranking member of a monastery)

Source: wiktionary.org