Pre"vi*ous (?), a. [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, previous
arrangements; a previous illness.
The dull sound . . . previous to the storm,
Rolls o'er the muttering earth.
Thomson.
Previous question. (Parliamentary
Practice) See under Question, and compare
Closure. -- 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.