Former nosey parker, we hear (5)
I believe the answer is:
prior
'former' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for prior that I've seen before include "More pressing" , "Former - cleric" , "Previous - religious leader" , "Deputy head of an abbey" , "Preceding" .)