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previous

UK //ˈpriː.vi.əs//US //ˈpriː.vi.əs//

词源

源自拉丁语 'praevius'(走在前面),由 prae-(前)和 via(路)组成,16世纪进入英语。

adjective

❶ 指在时间或顺序上发生在当前或提及的事物之前的,强调两者之间的先后关系。

“She had a previous engagement and couldn't attend the meeting.”

(她之前有约在先,无法参加会议。)

“The previous owner of this house left some furniture behind.”

(这栋房子的前主人留下了一些家具。)

同义词:prior, former, earlier, preceding, antecedent

常见短语

previous to — 正式用语,表示在某事之前发生或存在,相当于 before。

“Previous to moving here, I lived in New York for five years.”

(在搬到这里之前,我在纽约住了五年。)