previousadj.adv.n.
/ˈpriːvɪəs/, U.S. /ˈpriviəs/ A. adj.† 2. attributive. Going before or in front (in space); leading the way. Obsolete.
1.
a. attributive. Coming or going before (in time or order); foregoing, preceding, antecedent.Now chiefly used of an event antecedent to the time of speaking; formerly used also of an event antecedent to another event whether in the past or not.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective]
ererc888
fernOE
oldOE
oldOE
formerc1160
ratherc1330
before-goingc1384
formerc1384
forenexta1400
formea1400
while1399
antecedentc1400
precedentc1400
anteceding?a1425
late1446
whilom1452
preceding?a1475
forne1485
fore1490
heretofore1491
foregoing1530
toforegoing1532
further1557
firster1571
then1584
elder1594
quondam1598
forehand1600
previant1601
preallable1603
prior1607
anterior1608
previal1613
once1620
previous1621
predecessivea1627
antecedaneous?1631
preventive1641
prior1641
precedaneous1645
preventional1649
antegredient1652
senior1655
prevenient1656
precedential1661
antecedental1763
past-gone1784
antevenient1800
aforetime1835
one-time1850
onewhile1882
foretime1894
erstwhile1903
antecedane-
ere-
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > preceding or following in order > [adjective] > preceding in order
precedent1418
aforegoingc1443
precedingc1485
superior1534
foregoing1605
prior1607
preposed1608
previous1621
1621 J. Reading Faire Warning iii. 25 To sicknesse and all those previous dispositions of death, in labour, wearinesse; in old age, faintnesse; [etc.].
1686 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II II. vii. 601 All of a sudden, and without any..previous instructions, they were heard to speak..in the fifteen several Tongues of fifteen several Nations.
1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the Third 17 A previous Blast foretells the rising Storm.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xvi. viii. 65 The two Ladies..after very short previous Ceremonials, fell to Business.
1797 W. Godwin Enquirer i. v. 34 The mind seems to have acquired a previous obstinacy.
1817 Niles' Reg. 12 165/2 This flour would prove similar to a previous baking of new flour.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xii. 88 A previous inspection of the glacier..induced us to fix on a place.
1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Wrecker xi. 175 Captain Nares acknowledged our previous acquaintance with a succinct nod.
1903 Times 5 Mar. 3/5 On no previous occasion has any one been received from Christianity into the Zoroastrian faith.
1942 G. R. Gilbert Free to Laugh & Dance vi. 29 The..children of his two previous marriages were indignant but they couldn't do anything about it.
1993 W. Gibson Virtual Light 59 Sipping his coffee, he scrolled back to the previous day's notes.
b. In predicative use. With to. That precedes, that comes before, antecedent to. Cf. branch B.
ΚΠ
a1628 F. Greville Marcus Tullius Cicero (1651) iv. sig. D3/2 Rome scarce ere knew a prodigie Which was not prævious to that bloudy day.
1668 R. B. Orrery Henry V iv. 29 All..is done by us and you Which is, as previous to a Treaty, due.
1702 R. Steele Funeral iv. 51 I hope my Felicity is Previous to yours.
1731 A. Pope Epist. to Earl of Burlington 6 Something there is, more needful than Expence, And something previous ev'n to Taste—'Tis Sense.
1808 Z. M. Pike Acct. Exped. Sources Mississippi (1810) ii. 120 We wish to improve every moment of time previous to its [sc. the river's] entire fall.
1863 Sydney Morning Herald 25 Dec. In the year previous to free selection and deferred payment, that is, during the year 1861.
1904 Collier's 7 May 17/3 Mr. E. E. Smathers (who the day previous to this feat had purchased Major Delmar at $40,000, the highest price ever paid for a trotting gelding).
1994 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 26 May 13/1 It is..written in a manner several decades previous to that of Madame Bovary, which in fact had preceded it by a couple of years.
c. previous question n. (in parliamentary or other legislative procedure) a motion on whether the main issue under question should be put to the vote.In the British Parliament, the previous question is moved for the purpose of avoiding the putting of the main question. Its original form was ‘that this question be now put’, and its mover and seconder, with those in favour of shelving the main question, voted in the negative. However, since 1888, to avoid confusion with the closure motion then introduced, the form of the motion in the House of Commons has been ‘that that question be not now put’, so that those who wish to shelve vote in the affirmative; see quot. 1893. (The original form is retained in the House of Lords.) This procedural device is now rarely used.In the House of Representatives and many State legislatures in the United States, the previous question retains the original form, but is used in order to close debate and obtain an immediate vote on the main question, its supporters voting in the affirmative; see quot. 1888.J. Hatsell Precedents & Proc. House of Commons II. (1781) 71 says ‘On the 25th of May, 1604, is the first instance I have found of putting the previous question’: but the entry in Jrnl. House of Commons ((1803) I. 226/1) on that occasion is ‘The Bill much disputed put to Question, and upon Question, dashed without one Yea’. In 1673, according to A. Grey Debates House of Commons (1763) II. 113, Sir T. Littleton said ‘Sir Henry Vane was the first that ever proposed putting a Question, “Whether the Question should be now put”’ and Sir R. Howard, who followed, said ‘The Question is like the image of the inventor, a perpetual disturbance’. The latter is erroneously quoted by Hatsell (ed. 3, 1796) II. vi. 104 as ‘This previous question’; but no example of the phrase before 1700 has yet been pointed out.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > procedure of parliament or national assembly > [noun] > putting to vote > question whether vote shall be taken
previous questiona1715
1710 S. Sewall Diary 3 Nov. (1973) II. 644 After reading papers and debates, at last they who were against the precinct, mov'd that a previous Vote might be put; whether would vote it now, or no; and the Council was divided, so nothing was done.]
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 386 The previous question being then put, whether the main question should be then put, or not.
1739 in Rec. Early Hist. Boston 220 A previous Question was put... Voted in the Affirmative.
1775 G. Mason in J. Sparks Corr. Amer. Revol. (1853) I. 62 We had..no other way of preventing improper measures, but by procrastination, urging the previous question, and giving men time to reflect.
1790 Debate Ho. Com. on Repeal of Corp. & Test Acts 49 He [sc. Mr. Burke] declared..he had formed an idea of moving the previous Question.
1844 T. E. May Law of Parl. viii. 173 The previous question is an ingenious method of avoiding a vote upon any question that has been proposed... The words of this motion are, ‘That this question be now put’.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. I. xiii. 177 The great remedy against..obstructive debate is the so-called previous question, which is moved in the form, ‘Shall the main question be now put?’ and when ordered closes forthwith all debate, and brings the House to a direct vote on that main question.
1893 May's Parl. Proc. (ed. 10) ix. 269 In the Commons, the words of this motion are, ‘That that question be not now put’. [Note] The Speaker, with the concurrence of the house, first put the previous question in these words, 20th March, 1888..because the motion ‘That the question be now put’, is akin to the closure motion.
1986 Hansard Commons 23 June 133 Mr Bermingham (seated and covered): Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker, I refer you to page 388 of ‘Erskine May’ where you will see that the matter of the previous Question being put is a procedural matter. It is a perfectly proper Question...It was last put in 1943, and it should take priority over the Question on the order paper.
1991 Guide to Congress (Congressional Q.) (ed. 4) 88- a/1 A motion of the previous question, when carried, has the effect of cutting off all debate, preventing the offering of further amendments and forcing a vote on the pending matter. In the House, the previous question is not permitted in the Committee of the Whole. The motion for the previous question is a debate-limiting device and is not in order in the Senate.
d. Previous Examination n. Cambridge University (now historical) the first examination for the degree of B.A. Cf. little go n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > university examinations
fellowship examination1787
collections1799
responsions1810
response1813
little go1816
great go1820
Previous Examination1824
school1826
smalls1836
senate-house examination1837
tripos1842
honours examination1851
biennial1853
great1854
moderations1857
Mods1858
professional1890
Trip1909
previous1950
1824 Times 17 Apr. 4/1 (advt.) Regulations for the institution of a previous Examination of Undergraduates, &c.
1885 Ordinances Univ. Cambr. 6 By Grace, 4 Apr. 1878, selected Candidates for the Civil Service of India who are Candidates for Honours are excused the Previous Examination.
1940 Times 23 Jan. 9/3 Those who would have been candidates for Woolwich or Sandhurst have been excused the Latin test in the Previous Examinations.
1983 M. Cox M. R. James vi. 56 An unavoidable hurdle of that first term was the Previous Examination, better known as the Little-go, an elementary test for all intending Tripos candidates.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [adjective]
foregoing1530
headmost1592
beginning1609
first1647
previous1658
forehand1664
leading1771
lead1846
vanmost1865
front flight1899
1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words Prævious, leading the way, or going before.
1660 A. Cowley Ode Blessed Restoration 7 For in the glorious General's previous Ray We saw a new created Day.
1678 H. Vaughan Thalia Rediviva 53 Fair Vessell of our daily light, whose proud And previous glories gild that blushing Cloud.
3. colloquial (originally U.S.). In predicative use. Done, occurring, acting, etc., before the proper time; premature, hasty. Hence (U.S.): presumptuous, rude.Usually with modifier, as too previous, a bit previous, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > [adjective] > early or premature
rathe1340
soona1400
premature?1530
fore-ripeda1533
untimeousc1540
immature1548
overtimely1548
prematurate1570
oversoona1586
over-early1605
premiseda1616
prematured1692
unearthly1865
previous1869
1869 Massillon (Ohio) Independent 18 Aug. 3/1 Two or three weeks ago..it was intimated that Russell & Co. would take a brief recess. It was a little previous to make this last announcement. The last named establishment is, if possible, more busy than ever.
1882 T. H. Sayre Our Minister (MS) iii. 72 S. So it was you who dare to kiss me? Joe. Yes. S. Do it again. Mrs. B. Susie, you are too previous.
1890 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 21 June 2/3 The grumbling in this matter has been too previous.
1902 Westm. Gaz. 16 July 9/1 The Stock Exchange has been, in the slang of the Street, a little ‘too previous’.
1928 R. Fisher Walls of Jericho 304 Previous. Premature, hence, presumptuous. He who tries to break into a ticket-line is likely to be warned, ‘Don't get too previous, brother.’
1937 Z. N. Hurston Their Eyes were watching God v. 57 ‘Where is de Mayor?..Ah wants tuh talk wid him.’..‘Youse uh mite too previous for dat,’ Coker told him. ‘Us ain't got none yit.’
1945 J. W. Bellah Ward 20 82 Don't get previous, Ivan, this ain't a football game.
1999 S. Perera Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet xvi. 208 You might be a bit previous toasting the chef, Jen—the chilli's too bland and the rice is mushy.
B. adv.
Beforehand; previously. previous to: prior to, before (cf. sense A. 1b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adverb]
erea900
beforeeOE
forec1000
toforec1175
therebeforec1200
toforehand1258
forne toc1275
orc1275
andersitha1300
alreadyc1300
rather?1316
beforehandc1330
erstc1330
aforec1350
theretoforea1375
aforehanda1387
forthwitha1400
forwitha1400
or?a1400
ereward14..
toforetimec1400
aforetimes1429
aforetime1433
afore seasons1463
heretoforetime1481
forouth1487
aforrow?a1513
beforrow1568
paravant1590
antecedently1593
formerly1596
precedently1611
preveniently1633
preallably1652
previously1655
precedaneously1657
somewhiles1657
antecedaneously1661
aft1674
prior1675
anteriorly1681
antecedent1690
previous1712
priorly1742
1712 R. Blackmore Creation i. 281 When the crude Embryo careful Nature breeds,..her Energy she darts..Which only does unravel and untwist Th' invelop'd Limbs, that previous there exist.
1783 H. Blair Lect. Rhetoric I. vi. 100 There seems to have been an absolute necessity for Speech, previous to the formation of Society.
1801 M. Edgeworth Prussian Vase in Moral Tales III. 27 The company, previous to his majesty's arrival, were all assembled.
1843 J. S. Mill Syst. Logic I. iii. v. §3 The event not only exists, but begins to exist immediately previous.
1892 W. Gillett Phonograph ii. 11 Previous to taking a record the cylinder has a sheet of tinfoil carefully wrapped round it.
1951 C. R. Noller Textbk. Org. Chem. iv. 53 Previous to 1910, kerosene was the most important product derived from petroleum.
1992 Metro (San Jose, Calif.) 7 May 9/1 Riot police..had clashed with window smashers two nights previous.
C. n.
1. = Previous Examination n. at sense A. 1d.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > university examinations
fellowship examination1787
collections1799
responsions1810
response1813
little go1816
great go1820
Previous Examination1824
school1826
smalls1836
senate-house examination1837
tripos1842
honours examination1851
biennial1853
great1854
moderations1857
Mods1858
professional1890
Trip1909
previous1950
1885 A. Edwardes Girton Girl I. ix. 182 A coach, conscientiously minded to get his man..through Previous.
1905 Abol. Compulsory Greek (Cambridge Univ.) 6 The smaller and the local schools..are practically unaffected by the requirements of the Previous... In such schools the inclusion or exclusion of Greek in the regular curriculum does not depend on the Previous Examination.
1950 M. Marples University Slang 81 Soon after this date [sc. 1863] Little-go died out at Oxford, leaving the field to Smalls, and retired to Cambridge, where its official title, corresponding to Responsions, is Previous.
1979 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts Oct. 706/2 As late as 1861, the subjects were little more than a repetition of the ‘Previous’ on a slightly larger scale.
2. British slang. Without article. A criminal record; previous convictions. Cf. form n. 16c.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > conviction or judicial condemnation > [noun] > previous conviction
prior1896
previous1935
1935 ‘G. Ingram’ Cockney Cavalcade x. 168 He ain't got no ‘previous’, so you ought-a get bound over, didn't yer, Jack?
1974 E. Jones Barlow comes to Judgement 14 Sitting on the benches..were ten men... Nine of them had previous. The tenth had a clean record.
1977 ‘M. Underwood’ Murder with Malice v. 56 Anthony Rivings..five convictions for dishonesty..three other Rivings..all with previous.
1998 M. Waites Little Triggers (1999) v. 41 Get some background on him—you know, see if he's got any previous, if he's got an alibi for when that kid disappeared, that sort of thing.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.n.1621