anterior

 
Pronunciation: /anˈtɪərɪə/

adjective

  • 1 technical nearer the front, especially in the front of the body, or nearer to the head or forepart: the veins anterior to the heartThe opposite of posterior
  • Botany (of a part of a flower or leaf) situated further away from the main stem.
  • Phonetics pronounced with an obstruction located in front of the palato-alveolar region of the mouth, e.g. b, p, d, t.
  • 2 formal coming before in time; earlier: an incident anterior to her troubles

Derivatives

anteriority

Pronunciation: /-rɪˈɒrɪti/
noun

anteriorly

adverb

Origin:

mid 16th century: from French antérieur or Latin anterior, comparative of ante 'before'