anterior

[ an-teer-ee-er ]

adjective

1. situated before or at the front of; fore ( posterior ).
2. going before in time or sequence; preceding; earlier:

   events anterior to the outbreak of war.

3. Linguistics. (in distinctive feature analysis) articulated in the region extending from the alveolar ridge to the lips; alveolar, dental, or labial.
4. (in animals and embryos) pertaining to or toward the head or forward end of the body.
5. (in humans) pertaining to or toward the front plane of the body, equivalent to the ventral surface of quadrupeds.
6. Botany. on the front side and away from the main axis, as the lower lip of a flower.

anterior

/ ænˌtɪərɪˈɒrɪtɪ; ænˈtɪərɪə /

adjective

1. situated at or towards the front
2. earlier in time
3. zoology of or near the head end
4. botany (of part of a flower or leaf) situated farthest away from the main stem

Derived Forms

• anteriority, noun

Other Words From

• an·te·ri·or·i·ty [an-teer-ee-, awr, -i-tee, -, or, -], noun
• an·teri·or·ly adverb
• nonan·teri·or adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anterior¹

1535–45; < Latin, comparative of ante before, formed on model of posterior

Word History and Origins

Origin of anterior¹

C17: from Latin, comparative of ante before

Example Sentences

Returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury is Leia Edwards.

From Los Angeles Times

Since the start of last season Rodri, who suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury against Arsenal in September, played 53 games in which they won 39, drew 13 and lost one, the FA Cup Final against Manchester United.

From BBC

Defensive midfielder Rodri is out for the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in September.

From BBC

He’d been through two torn anterior cruciate ligaments.

From Los Angeles Times

The teenager can operate excellently at left or right-back and has also been used in a defensive midfield role after Rodri sustained a season-ending injury when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

From BBC