Primsie, prim′si, adj. (Scot.) prim, demure.
Primula, prim′ū-la, n. the genus of plants to which the primrose belongs. [L. primus, first.]
Primum mobile, prī′mum mob′i-lē, in the Ptolemaic system the outermost of the ten revolving spheres of the universe, supposed to carry the others with it: any great source of motion. [L.]
Primus, prī′mus, n. the bishop in the Scottish Episcopal Church who presides over the meetings of the other bishops, but without metropolitan authority.
Primy, prī′mi, adj. (Shak.) blooming.
Prince, prins, n. one of the highest rank: a sovereign: son of a king or emperor: a title of nobility, as in Germany: the chief of any body of men:—fem. Prin′cess.—v.i. to play the prince (usually with it).—ns. Prince′-bish′op, a bishop who was also the civil ruler or prince of his diocese; Prince′-Con′sort, the husband of a reigning queen; Prince′dom, the estate, jurisdiction, sovereignty, or rank of a prince; Prince′hood, rank or quality of a prince; Prince′-Impē′rial, the eldest son of an emperor; Prince′kin, Prince′let, Prince′ling, a little or inferior prince.—adj. Prince′-like, becoming a prince.—n. Prince′liness.—adj. Prince′ly, prince-like: becoming a prince: grand: august: regal.—adv. in a prince-like manner.—adv. Prin′cessly, like a princess.—n. Prin′cess-Roy′al, the eldest daughter of a sovereign.—adj. Prin′cified, ridiculously dignified.—n. Mer′chant-prince, a merchant who has gained great wealth.—Prince of darkness, Prince of this world, Satan; Prince of Peace, Christ: the Messiah; Prince of Wales, the eldest son of the British sovereign; Prince Rupert's drops (see Drop); Prince's feather, a tall showy annual with spikes of rose-coloured flowers; Prince's metal, a gold-like alloy of 70 parts of copper and 25 of zinc. [Fr.,—L. princeps—primus, first, capĕre, to take.]
Princeps, prin′seps, n. one who, or that which, is foremost, original, &c.: short for editio princeps, the first edition of a book. [L.]
Princesse, prin-ses′, adj. of a woman's garment, close-fitting, the skirt and waist in one, and undraped. [Fr.]
Principal, prin′si-pal, adj. taking the first place: highest in rank, character, or importance: chief.—n. a principal person or thing: a head, as of a school or college: one who takes a leading part: money on which interest is paid: (archit.) a main beam or timber: (law) the person who commits a crime, or one who aids and abets him in doing it: a person for whom another becomes surety, a person who, being sui juris, employs another to do an act which he is competent himself to do: (mus.) an organ-stop: (Shak.) the principal rafter.—n. Principal′ity, supreme power: the territory of a prince or the country which gives title to him: (B.) a prince: (obs.) a power: (pl.) an order of angels, the seventh in the hierarchy of Dionysius.—adv. Prin′cipally.—ns. Prin′cipalness, the state of being principal or chief; Prin′cipalship, position of a principal; Prin′cipate, primary: a principality, esp. the office of the ancient Roman emperors. [L. principalis.]
Principia, prin-sip′i-a, n.pl. first principles: elements, used often as the contracted title of the 'Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica' of Newton.—adj. Princip′ial, elementary. [L., pl. of principium.]