pre-existence; precession &c 280; precursor &c 64; the past &c 122;
premises.
V. precede, come before; forerun; go before &c (lead) 280; preexist;
dawn; presage &c 511; herald, usher in.
be beforehand &c (be early) 132; steal a march upon, anticipate,
forestall; have the start, gain the start.
Adj. prior, previous; preceding, precedent; anterior, antecedent; pre-
existing, pre-existent; former, foregoing; aforementioned, before-
mentioned, abovementioned; aforesaid, said; introductory &c
(precursory) 64.
Adv. before, prior to; earlier; previously &c adj.; afore†, aforehand†,
beforehand, ere, theretofore, erewhile†; ere then, ere now, before then,
before now; erewhile†, already, yet, beforehand; on the eve of.
Phr. prior tempore prior jure [Lat.].