English
previous
Previous perhaps derives from Latin praevius ‘going before’ (prae- + via ‘way’).
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpraevius‘going before’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1963previous
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpraevius‘going before’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1963previous
Earliest quotation: 1963, Margery Allingham, Foreword: “He stood transfixed before the unaccustomed view of London…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁- ‘to pursue, be strong’
virtual, violent, violation, inevitable, virtue, vengeance, violate, avenge, vis, venison, wer, virtuoso, virtuous, vindication, ochre, vim, virile, virility, inviolable, violator, virago, 54 more
through Latin via ‘road’
via, obvious, voyage, convey, envoy, trivial, trivia, deviation, deviant, viaduct, trivium, obviate, 14 more
Today it means
adj Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin praevius / previous