---
title: prior — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prior» in the school dictionary: Happening or existing before something else; earlier. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prior

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** child, She, he, you, prior · **What happens:** happen, exist, need, sign, have, not come · **To what, where:** something, signed form, prior knowledge, prior appointment, 12 sweets, 7

<!-- .vabout -->
«prior» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [prior in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prior.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Happening or existing before something else; earlier.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:m1:1
# text = Happening or existing before something else; earlier.
1	Happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	existing	exist	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	_
6	else	else	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	earlier	early	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | early *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **exist** | gerund |  |  |  | something |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme before something=Location |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
prior to (formal): before.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:m2:1
# text = prior to (formal): before.
1	prior	prior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
7	before	before	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head of a group of monks or a priory.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:m3:1
# text = The head of a group of monks or a priory.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	priory	priory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prior to the trip, every child needs a signed form.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:x1:1
# text = Prior to the trip, every child needs a signed form.
1	Prior	prior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	4	case	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	signed	sign	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | every child | a signed form |  |  |  | prior the trip | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot form=Theme |
| 2 | **sign** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No prior knowledge is needed for this course.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:x2:1
# text = No prior knowledge is needed for this course.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
2	prior	prior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	knowledge	knowledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	course	course	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present · passive |  | no prior knowledge |  |  |  | for this course | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had a prior appointment and could not come.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:x3:1
# text = She had a prior appointment and could not come.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	prior	prior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	appointment	appointment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | She | a prior appointment |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent appointment=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **come** | could | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prior to lunch, he had 12 sweets; after lunch he had 7.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:x4:1
# text = Prior to lunch, he had 12 sweets; after lunch he had 7.
1	Prior	prior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	3	case	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	after	after	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
14	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | he | 12 sweets |  |  |  | prior lunch | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Patient |
| 2 | **have** | past | he | 7 |  |  | after lunch |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 7=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wash your hands prior to eating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:x5:1
# text = Wash your hands prior to eating.
1	Wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	prior	prior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	6	mark	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prior led the monks in prayer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:x6:1
# text = The prior led the monks in prayer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prior	prior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	3	nsubj	_	_
3	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | the prior | the monks |  | prayer |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent monk=Theme in prayer=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many are obtained from ancient authors prior to the time in which he lived.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prior:x7:1
# text = Many are obtained from ancient authors prior to the time in which he lived.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	obtained	obtain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	authors	author	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	prior	prior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	obl	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obtain** | present · passive |  | Many |  | ancient authors prior the time |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme from author=Source |
| 2 | **live** | past | he |  |  |  | in the time |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in which=Location |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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