previously

adv

Etymology: Etymology tree English previous Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English previously From previous + -ly.

1. First; beforehand, in advance.

   “I must, however, previously remark, that the power of generalizing ideas, to any great extent, is not very common amongst men or women.”

2. At an earlier time; already.

   “The discovery of a previously unknown species had taken place nearly two years previously.”

   “Pliny the Elder, the Roman encyclopedist, declares that to urinate in a spot where a dog has previously done so results in loss of virility.”

3. Recapitulating the preceding episodes of a series.