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Webster 1913 Edition

Pre′vi-ous

Adj.

[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,

arrangements; a

illness.

The dull sound . . .

to the storm,
Rolls o’er the muttering earth.

Thomson.

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–

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.

Webster 1828 Edition

PRE'VIOUS

Adj.

[L. proevius; proe, before, and via, way, that is, a going.] Going before in time; being or happening before something else; antecedent; prior; as a previous intimation of a design; a previous notion; a previous event.

Sound from the mountain, previous to the storm,

Rolls o'er the muttering earth.