Previous nobleman displayed ire (7)
I believe the answer is:
earlier
'previous' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'nobleman displayed ire' is the wordplay.
'nobleman' becomes 'earl' (member of the nobility).
'displayed' is an anagram indicator (letters displayed in another way).
'ire' is an anagram of 'ier'.
'earl'+'ier'='EARLIER'
(Other definitions for earlier that I've seen before include "At a previous time" , "Former" , "Prior" , "of a bygone age?" , "in days of yore?" .)