previously

Previously is an English adverb that indicates an event or state occurred at an earlier time than the point of reference. It is used to refer to actions, conditions, or facts that took place before the current moment or before the current point in a narrative or argument.

The word is formed from the adjective previous plus the adverbial suffix -ly. The root "previous" derives from the Latin prefix prae- meaning "before" via Old French and Middle English, with the sense of something that comes earlier.

In writing, previously helps establish background or chronology, signaling that information is being recalled or contrasted with what follows. In storytelling and film or television, it is often used to cue a recap of earlier events, as in "Previously on..." It is also common in formal reporting to situate a finding in relation to a prior observation. In everyday speech, "previously" is a precise way to refer back to earlier references without repeating them.

Examples: "Previously, the project was funded by a different grant." "She had previously worked as a teacher." "Previously on the series, the detective uncovered new evidence." Related terms include earlier, formerly, and before.

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