Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Previous \Pre"vi*ous\, a. [L. praevius going before, leading the
   way; prae before + via the way. See {Voyage}.]
   Going before in time; being or happening before something
   else; antecedent; prior; as, previous arrangements; a
   previous illness.

         The dull sound . . . previous to the storm, Rolls o'er
         the muttering earth.                     --Thomson.

   {Previous question}. (Parliamentary Practice) See under
      {Question}, and compare {Closure}.

   {Previous to}, before; -- often used adverbially for
      previously. ``Previous to publication.'' --M. Arnold. ``A
      policy . . . his friends had advised previous to 1710.''
      --J. H. Newman.

   Syn: Antecedent; preceding; anterior; prior; foregoing;
        former.

Source : WordNet®

previous
     adj 1: (used especially of persons) of the immediate past; "the
            former president"; "our late President is still very
            active"; "the previous occupant of the White House"
            [syn: {former(a)}, {late(a)}, {previous(a)}]
     2: too soon or too hasty; "our condemnation of him was a bit
        previous"; "a premature judgment" [syn: {previous(p)}, {premature}]
     3: just preceding something else in time or order; "the
        previous owner"; "my old house was larger" [syn: {previous(a)},
         {old}]