Previously found in order (5)

I believe the answer is:

prior

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'previously' is the definition.
(synonyms)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for prior that I've seen before include "Head of a religious order" , "head of a religious community" , "Senior monk; earlier" , "Certainly not succeeding" , "Already arranged" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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