Primer, prim′ėr, or prī′mer, n. a first book: a work of elementary religious instruction: a first reading-book: an elementary introduction to any subject: a kind of type of two species, long-primer (10 point) and great-primer (18 point). [Orig. a small prayer-book.]
Primero, pri-mā′rō, n. an old game at cards. [Sp.]
Primeval, prī-mē′val, adj. belonging to the first ages: original: primitive.—adv. Primē′vally. [L. primævus—primus, first, ævum, an age.]
Primigenial, prī-mi-jē′ni-al, adj. first-born or made: primary: constituent—also Primogē′nial.—adjs. Primig′enous, Primigē′nious, first formed; Primogen′ital (obs.), Primogen′itary, Primogen′itive, of or belonging to primogeniture.—ns. Primogen′itor, the first begetter or father: a forefather; Primogen′iture, state of being born first of the same parents: (law) the right of the eldest son to inherit his father's estates; Primogen′itureship. [Fr.,—L. primo-genitus, first-born—primus, first, gignĕre, genitum, to beget.]
Primitiæ, pri-mish′i-ē, n.pl. first-fruits offered to the gods—also Primi′tias (Spens.): the first year's revenue of a benefice. [L.,—primus, first.]
Primitive, prim′i-tiv, adj. belonging to the beginning, or to the first times: original: ancient: antiquated, old-fashioned: not derived: (biol.) rudimentary, primary or first of its kind: (geol.) of the earliest formation.—n. a primitive word, or one not derived from another: (math.) a form from which another is derived.—ns.pl. Prim′itive-col′ours, the colours from which all others are supposed to be derived—viz. red, yellow, and blue; Prim′itive-fa′thers, the Christian writers before the Council of Nice, 325 A.D.—adv. Prim′itively.—n.pl. Prim′itive-Meth′odists, a religious body founded in 1810, whose beliefs are the same as those of other Methodists, but whose working arrangements are nearly Presbyterian.—n. Prim′itiveness.—n.pl. Prim′itive-rocks (see Primary-rocks). [Fr.,—L. primitivus, an extension of primus.]
Primo, prē′mō, n. (mus.) the first or principal part.
Primordial, prī-mor′di-al, adj. first in order: original: existing from the beginning: (anat.) in a rudimentary state: (bot.) first formed, as leaves or fruit.—n. first principle or element.—ns. Primor′dialism; Primor′dium. [L. primus, first, ordo, order.]
Primp, primp, v.t. (Scot.) to dress in an affected manner.—v.i. to be affected. [Prink.]
Primrose, prim′rōz, n. an early spring flower common in woods and meadows: a plant of the genus Primula: (Spens.) the first or earliest flower, the first or choicest.—adj. resembling a primrose in colour: flowery, gay.—Primrose League, a political association for the spread of Conservative opinions—formed in 1883 in memory of Lord Beaconsfield, whose favourite flower is said to have been the primrose. [Fr. prime rose—as if L. prima rosa; really through O. Fr. primerole and Low L. dim. forms from L. primus.]