Prior dominus in hac domo habitabat.

Prior is the masculine nominative singular form of the adjective meaning earlier, former, previous.

It agrees with dominus, which is also masculine nominative singular. So prior dominus means the former master/owner/lord.

Although prior is historically a comparative form, in sentences like this it often simply means former or previous, without needing an explicit than phrase.

Yes, prior is etymologically a comparative form, but Latin often uses it as a normal adjective meaning former or previous.

So in this sentence, it does not have to mean something like earlier than the current owner in a tightly grammatical comparative sense. It can simply describe the person as the previous master/owner.

Dominus is the subject of the sentence, so it appears in the nominative singular.

The verb habitabat means was living / used to live, and the person doing that action is the former master/owner:

• prior dominus = the subject
• habitabat = was living

Dominus can mean several related things depending on context:

• master
• lord
• owner
• sometimes head of the household

In a sentence about living in a house, English might translate it as owner, master, or lord, depending on the broader context.

Because in here means in in the sense of location, and with that meaning Latin normally takes the ablative.

So both words in the phrase have to be ablative singular:

• hac = ablative feminine singular of hic, haec, hoc
• domo = ablative singular of domus

That is why Latin says in hac domo = in this house.

Hac is the ablative feminine singular form of hic, haec, hoc (this).

Since domo is feminine singular ablative, the demonstrative must agree with it:

• haec domus = this house (nominative)
• in hac domo = in this house (ablative after in of location)

So hac is used because of case agreement.

Because the phrase in hac domo requires the ablative, and the ablative singular of domus is domo.

Domus is an irregular noun, but here the important point is:

• domus = nominative singular
• domo = ablative singular

Since the phrase means in this house, Latin uses domo.

Latin uses:

• in + ablative for location: in, on
• in + accusative for motion into: into

So:

• in hac domo = in this house / inside this house
• in hanc domum would mean into this house

Because the sentence describes where someone lived, not movement into the house, the ablative is correct.

Habitabat is the imperfect indicative active, third person singular, from habitare.

The imperfect is commonly used for:

• an action in progress in the past
• a repeated or habitual past action
• background description

So habitabat can mean:

• was living
• used to live
• lived (with an ongoing or habitual sense)

It suggests an ongoing situation in the past, rather than a single completed event.

The difference is mainly one of aspect:

• habitabat = was living / used to live
  This is imperfect and gives a sense of ongoing or habitual action in the past.

• habitavit = lived / has lived
  This is perfect and usually presents the action more as a completed fact.

So prior dominus in hac domo habitabat suggests the former owner’s residence as a past ongoing state or habit.

Yes, Latin word order is much more flexible than English word order because the endings show the grammatical roles.

This sentence could be rearranged in several ways without changing the basic meaning, for example:

• In hac domo prior dominus habitabat
• Habitabat prior dominus in hac domo
• Prior in hac domo dominus habitabat (less natural, depending on emphasis)

The given order is straightforward:

• prior dominus introduces the subject
• in hac domo gives the location
• habitabat comes at the end, which is very common in Latin

Classical Latin has no definite article like English the and no indefinite article like a/an.

So prior dominus can mean:

• the former master
• a former master

Which one is meant depends on context. In many translations, English naturally supplies the.

Yes. Latin adjectives can often appear either before or after the noun.

So both of these are possible:

• prior dominus
• dominus prior

The placement can affect style or emphasis, but both can mean the former master/owner.

In this sentence, prior dominus is a perfectly normal way to phrase it.

Yes, habitare is a very common verb for to live, to dwell, or to reside.

It often refers to living in a place. So in this sentence, it fits naturally with in hac domo:

• habitabat in hac domo = was living in this house

Latin can also use other verbs depending on nuance, but habitare is a standard and very common choice here.