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Prior vs According - What's the difference?

prior | according |

As adjectives the difference between prior and according

is that prior is of that which comes before, in advance while according is agreeing; in agreement or harmony; harmonious.

As adverbs the difference between prior and according

is that prior is previously while according is accordingly; correspondingly.

As a noun prior

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

As a verb according is

present participle of lang=en.

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.

    • according

    English

    Verb

    (head)
    • Mind and soul according well. -

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Agreeing; in agreement or harmony; harmonious.
    • This according voice of national wisdom.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) Accordingly; correspondingly.
  • * 1604 , (William Shakespeare), Measure for Measure , V.i:
    • That apprehends no further than this world, / And squarest thy life according .
  • Consistently (as); in a corresponding manner (now generally expressing accordance with two or more alternatives).
  • * 1946 , (Bertrand Russell), History of Western Philosophy , I.20:
    • Ethical theories may be divided into two classes, according as they regard virtue as an end or a means.
  • In accordance, in a manner consistent (to) (something).
  • * 1897 , Henry James, What Maisie Knew :
    • there was only a frightening silence, unenlivened even by the invidious enquiries of former years, which culminated, according to its stern nature, in a still more frightening old woman, a figure awaiting her on the very doorstep.

    Derived terms

    * according to * according as

    Statistics

    *