Precedent vs Prior - What's the difference?

precedent | prior | Related terms |

Precedent is a related term of prior.

As a verb precedent

is .

As a noun prior is

prior (high-ranking member of a monastery).

precedent

English

(wikipedia precedent)

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Noun

(en noun)

An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.

* Hooker

Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.

(legal) A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.

(obsolete, with definite article) The aforementioned (thing).

*, New York 2001, p.74:

A third argument may be derived from the precedent .

The previous version.

(obsolete) A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.

(Shakespeare)

Derived terms

* binding precedent * declaratory precedent * original precedent * persuasive precedent * precedented * precedential * precedent-setting * precedent sub silentio * unprecedented

Adjective

(-)

Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.

*, III.2.1.i:

In the precedent section mention was made, amongst other pleasant objects, of this comeliness and beauty which proceeds from women […].

Verb

(en verb)

(legal) To provide precedents for.

(legal) To be a precedent for.

prior

English

Adjective

(-)

Of that which comes before, in advance.

I had no prior knowledge you were coming.

former, previous

His prior residence was smaller than his current one.

Usage notes

The etymological antonym is (m) (from Latin) (compare (m)/(m) for “first/last”). This is now no longer used, however, and there is no corresponding antonym. Typically either (m) or (m) are used, but these form different pairs – (m)/(m) and (m)/(m) – and are more formal than prior . When an opposing pair is needed, these can be used, or other pairs such as (m)/(m) or (m)/(m).

Synonyms

* See also

Derived terms

* prior to

Adverb

(en adverb)

(colloquial) Previously.

The doctor had known three months prior .

Noun

(wikipedia prior) (en noun)

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

* 1939 , (Raymond Chandler), The Big Sleep , Penguin 2011, p. 53:

‘And a little later we get the routine report on his prints from Washington, and he's got a prior back in Indiana, attempted hold-up six years ago.’

(statistics) In Bayesian inference, a prior probability distribution.