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A primitive word; a radix, root, or simple, underived, uncompounded word; an etymon.

Without derivation; primitively; essentially. [R.] These great orbs thus radically bright. Prior.

A primitive, from which spring other words; a radical; a root; an etymon.

Characterized by violence and passion; unruly; rampant. [Prov. or Low] In the primitive ages of a rampageous antiquity. Galt.

One of the Primitive Methodists, who seceded from the Wesleyan Methodists on the ground of their deficiency in fervor and zeal; -- so called in contempt.

Coming before others, or before the usual time; early. [Obs. or Poetic] Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies. Milton.

lock (Firearms), one in which the hammer rebounds to half cock after striking the cap or primer.

A tool used for applying a fresh percussion cap or primer to a cartridge shell in reloading it.

Not proximate or acting directly; primary; distant. "From the effect to the remotest cause." Granville.

A machine or implement for applying fresh primers to spent cartridge shells, so that the shells be used again.

In Gothic vaulting, one of the primary members of the vault. These are strong arches, meeting and crossing one another, dividing the whole space into triangles, which are then filled by vaulted construction of lighter material. Hence, an imitation of one of these in wood, plaster, or the like.

rizon at right angles; in spherical projections, that position of the sphere in which the primitive plane coincides with the plane of the equator.

ce, the leader of a number of persons acting together; the leader of a herd of animals. A primacy of order, such an one as the ringleader hath in a dance. Barrow.

A primitive form of speech; one of the earliest terms employed in language; a word from which other words are formed; a radix, or radical.

classical and modern, and by its more perfect preservation of the roots and forms of the primitive language from which they are all descended, is a most important assistance in determining their history and relations. Cf. Prakrit, and Veda.

The state of being savage; savageness; savagism. A like work of primeval savagery. C. Kingsley.

A place of primary instruction; an establishment for the instruction of children; as, a primary school; a common school; a grammar school. As he sat in the school at his primer. Chaucer.

e, perhaps, insignificant. The schoolmaster is abroad; and I trust to him, armed with his primer, against the soldier in full military array. Brougham.

ven forward by something. The first nautilus that scudded upon the glassy surface of warm primeval oceans. I. Taylor. The wind was high; the vast white clouds scudded over the blue heaven. Beaconsfield.

t time; proper conjuncture; as, the season for planting; the season for rest. The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs. Milton.