previous
/ˈpɹi.vi.əs/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.00 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An existing criminal record (short for "previous convictions")
British usage; Countable; Informal; Uncountable
noun
A track record of similar behaviour, especially bad behaviour.
British usage; Countable; Informal; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "He is no better than the previous Prime Minister."
- "He stood transfixed before the unaccustomed view of London at night time, a vast panorama which reminded him […] of some wood engravings far off and magical, in a printshop in his childhood. They dated from the previous century and were coarsely printed on tinted paper, with tinsel outlining the design."
- "Putin’s answered by simply stating he did not believe Ukraine had honored the previous ceasefires Moscow had unilaterally called, and that Kyiv has said Moscow never respected either."
- "I was a bit previous it turned out, as I worked short-handed for ten days before I could find another hand."
- "It turned out the shoplifter had a lot of previous."
- "Simmons had eight previouses: robberies, burglaries, a couple of felonious assaults."
Etymology
From Latin praevius.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpɹi.vi.əs/
- British English: /ˈpɹiː.vɪəs/
Usage
- Informal
- British usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
Inflected Forms
more previous (comparative)
most previous (superlative)
prævious (alternative, archaic)
previouses (plural)