An‐te″ri‐or (�), a. [L. anterior, comp. of ante before.] 1. Before in time; antecedent.
Antigonus, who was anterior to Polybius.
Sir G. C. Lewis.
2. Before, or toward the front, in place; as, the anterior part of the mouth; — opposed to posterior.
☞ In comparative anatomy, anterior often signifies at or toward the head, cephalic; and in human anatomy it is often used for ventral.
Syn. — Antecedent; previous; precedent; preceding; former; foregoing.