previous（adj.）
"先于时间，存在于或发生于某事物之前"，1620年代，源自拉丁语 praevius "先行"，由 prae "在...之前"（见 pre-)和 via "道路"（见 via）组成。相关词汇： Previously。
在议会实践中， previous question 是在议长提出主要问题之前提出的问题，询问是否应对主要问题进行投票。
The great remedy against prolix or obstructive debate is the so called previous question, which is moved in the form, "Shall the main question be now put?" and when ordered closes forthwith all debate, and brings the House to a direct vote on that main question. ... Closure by previous question, first established in 1811, is in daily use, and is considered so essential to the progress of business that I never found any member or official willing to dispense with it. Even the senators, who object to its introduction into their own much smaller chamber, agree that it must exist in a large body like the House. [James Bryce, "The American Commonwealth," vol. I., 1893]
防止冗长或阻碍性辩论的重要措施是所谓的先前问题，其形式为“现在是否应提出主要问题？”当被命令时，立即结束所有辩论，并使议会对主要问题进行直接投票。...先前问题的关闭，最初于1811年建立，现已日常使用，并被认为对业务进展至关重要，以至于我从未发现任何成员或官员愿意放弃它。即使是反对将其引入自己的较小议会的参议员们也同意，在像众议院这样的大团体中必须存在。[詹姆斯·布莱斯，《美国共和国》，第一卷，1893年]
该词起源时间：1620年代