
好词典

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。
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。)
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。)