previous to
在…之前before; prior to
Previous to that, we had traveled by car to Paris.在那之前,我们坐车去了巴黎。
Previous to coming here,I worked in London.来此之前,我在伦敦工作。

用作定语
▲～+n.
 The author mentioned it in the previous paragraph.作者在前一段里提到这件事。
He said he had arrived on the previous night.他说他是在前一天夜里到达的。
His previous attempts had been unsuccessful.他以前的尝试没成功。
A previous engagement prevents me from accepting your kind invitation.我因事前有了约会,不能接受您的盛情邀请。
用作表语
▲S+be+～+prep.-phrase
 Don't be too previous about refusing.别过急地拒绝。
Aren't you rather previous in supposing that I will marry you?你以为我会同你结婚,你这想法不是过早了吗?

［派生词］ prevision  n.预知，预见
［同义词］   earlier, former, past, preceding
［反义词］   later, timely
［词源］＜拉丁语praevius(路上先有的东西)