the relation of something considered as prior to another.

in Law, denotes an antiquity of tenure, in comparison of another less ancient.

PRISCIANUS, an eminent grammarian, born at Caesarea, taught at Constantinople with great reputation about the year 525. Laurentius Valla calls Priscian, Donatus, and Servius, triumviri in re grammatica; and thinks none of the ancients who wrote after them fit to be mentioned with them. He composed a work De arte grammatica, which was first printed by Aldus at Venice in 1476; and another De naturalibus quaestionibus, which he dedicated to Chofores king of Persia: before which, he translated Dionysius's description of the world into Latin verse. A person who writes false Latin, is proverbially said to "break Priscian's head."