| prime |
adjective |
First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary., First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister., First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth., Early; blooming; being in the first stage., Lecherous; lustful; lewd., Marked or distinguished by a mark (‘) called a prime mark., The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring., The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection., That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part., The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds., The first of the chief guards., Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; — so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1., A prime number. See under Prime, a., An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; — denoted by [‘]. See 2d Inch, n., 1., To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge., To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall., To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief., To trim or prune, as trees., To mark with a prime mark., To be renewed, or as at first., To serve as priming for the charge of a gun., To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed; — said of a steam boiler. |