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 (***prime])
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 [***prime]]. 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.
Divisible by no number except itself or
unity; as, 7 is a prime number.