In a word: Prior

In a word: Prior

Of course, prior means gone before, as in past history, or perhaps only a few moments ago; it happened prior to my arrival on the scene. But it can also mean, quite confusingly, to something in the future, when trying to get out of a meeting by saying I’ve got a prior appointment. If you are an aficionado of American police dramas then you will be well acquainted with the prior, meaning a previous criminal conviction.   And for something quite d…