Definitions for "Prior art"
Existing technological information against which an invention or design is judged to determine if it is novel and can thus be registered.(FR:État antérieur de la technique, IT:Stato della Tecnica )
Any information which is used to describe public, technical knowledge prior to the invention by applicant or more than a year prior to his/her application.
All of the pertinent and applicable knowledge in the public domain at the time a patent application is filed.
Keywords:  debt
Priority Debt
Keywords:  developed, body
body of knowledge that has been developed in the past