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1.                 From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
                   
   
   
                   
                     
   Prior \Pri"or\, n. [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F.
      prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See Prior, a.]
      1. (Eccl.) The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot
         in dignity.
         [1913 Webster]
      2. a chief magistrate, as in the republic of Florence in the
         middle ages. --[RHUD]
         [PJC]
      Conventical prior, or Conventual prior, a prior who is at
         the head of his own house. See the Note under Priory.
      Claustral prior, an official next in rank to the abbot in a
         monastery; prior of the cloisters.
         [1913 Webster]