Roget's Thesaurus

#116. Priority

Nouns

priority, antecedence, anteriority, precedence, pre-existence; precession etc. 280; precursor etc. 64; the past etc. 122; premises.

Verbs

precede, come before; forerun; go before etc. (lead) 280; preexist; dawn; presage etc. 511; herald, usher in. be beforehand etc. (be early) 132; steal a march upon, anticipate, forestall; have the start, gain the start.

Adjectives

prior, previous; preceding, precedent; anterior, antecedent; pre-existing, pre-existent; former, foregoing; aforementioned, before-mentioned, abovementioned; aforesaid, said; introductory etc. (precursory) 64.

Adverbs

before, prior to; earlier; previously etc. adj.; afore, aforehand, beforehand, ere, theretofore, erewhile; ere then, ere now, before then, before now; erewhile, already, yet, beforehand; on the eve of.

Phrases

prior tempore prior jure [Lat.].