prior to
American Heritage Dictionary:
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prior to
prep.
Preceding; before: "prior to the changes of ownership and editorship" (Brendan Gill).
Fowler's Modern English Usage:
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prior to
is an alternative for before that is normally appropriate only in formal contexts, where it conveys the extra meaning 'as a necessary preliminary to': Candidates must deposit security prior to the ballot. In general use it is often pretentious and unnecessary.
| principal, principle, primeval, primarily | |
| prioritize, prise, pristine |
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American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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