\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.