antecedent vs prior

antecedent

adj
  • Earlier, either in time or in order. 

  • Presumptive. 

noun
  • The first term of a ratio, i.e. the term a in the ratio a:b, the other being the consequent. 

  • An ancestor. 

  • Previous principles, conduct, history, etc. 

  • Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing. 

  • A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun. 

  • The first of two subsets of a sequent, consisting of all the sequent's formulae which are valuated as true. 

  • The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p→q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent. 

prior

adj
  • Advance; previous; coming before. 

  • Former, previous. 

adv
  • Previously. 

noun
  • A high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot. 

  • A prior probability distribution, one based on information or belief before additional data is collected. 

  • A belief supported by previous evidence or experience that one can use to make inferences about the future. 

  • A chief magistrate in Italy. 

  • A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's record. 

How often have the words antecedent and prior occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )