Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRI'OR, n. [Fr. prieur; It. priore; L. prior.]

1. The superior of a convent of monks, or one next in dignity to an abbot. Priors are claustral or conventical. The conventical are the same as abbots. A claustral prior is one that governs the religious of an abbey or priory in commendam, having his jurisdiction wholly from the abbot. – Encyc.
2. In some churches, one who presides over others in the same churches. – Ayliffe.