Previous
/ˈpriː.vi.əs/noun
Existing or happening before something else in time or order.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *praevius*, meaning “going in front,” built from *prae* (“before”) + *via* (“road, way”)—so its hidden image is literally a guide walking ahead on the path.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wegh-
“to go, transport, move”
Latin
Latin
via
“road, way”
Latin
Latin
praevius
“going before, leading the way”
Late Latin
Latin
previosus / previous
“preceding, prior”
Middle French
Old French
previous
“previous, prior”
Late Middle English
English
previous
“going before in time or order”