SuaviloquyToday’s word

anterior

Anterior, a.

Etymology: [L. anterior, comp. of ante before.]

1. Before in time; antecedent. Antigonus, who was anterior to Polybius. Sir G. C. Lewis.

2. Before, or toward the front, in place; as, the anterior part of the mouth; -- opposed to posterior.

Note: In comparative anatomy, anterior often signifies at or toward the head, cephalic; and in human anatomy it is often used for ventral.

Syn. -- Antecedent; previous; precedent; preceding; former; foregoing.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for anterior; he lists it under previous.

Where he writes about it:

Anterior, while it can be used of time, is coming to be employed chiefly with reference to place; as the anterior lobes of the brain. — from previous

Synonyms

previousantecedentearlierforegoingformerforwardfrontintroductoryprecedentprecedingpreliminaryprior

Antonyms

afterconcludingconsequentfollowinghindhinderhindmostlaterlatterposteriorsubsequentsucceeding

etymologyWebster’s online