previousa.[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.()()