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Illustrating, possessing, or characterized by, some quality or property in the first degree; having undergone the first stage of substitution or replacement. Primary alcohol (Organic Chem.), any alcohol which possess the group CH2.OH, and can be oxidized so as to form a corresponding aldehyde and acid having the same n…

First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister. "Prime virtues." Dryden.

Highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case. Wisdom is the principal thing. Prov. iv. 7.

. The probable error is computed from the observations made, and is used to express their degree of accuracy. -- The probable, that which is within the bounds of probability; that which is not unnatural or preternatural; -- opposed to the marvelous.

Extraordinary in bulk, extent, quantity, or degree; very great; vast; huge; immense; as, a prodigious mountain; a prodigious creature; a prodigious blunder. "Prodigious might." Milton.

from each other increases with their distance from the equator, so that at all places the degrees of latitude and longitude have to each other the same ratio as on the sphere itself. -- Oblique projection, a projection made by parallel lines drawn from every point of a figure and meeting the plane of projection obliqu…

That degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments that induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration. I'll have some proof. Shak. It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to confirm whatever he pl…

Properly; hence, to a great degree; very; as, proper good. [Colloq & Vulgar]

adaptation of one portion to another, or to the whole, as respect magnitude, quantity, or degree; comparative relation; ratio; as, the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body. The image of Christ, made after his own proportion. Ridley. Formed in the best proportions of her sex. Sir W. Scott. Documents are…

tionate. -- Pro*por"tion*a*ble*ness, n. But eloquence may exist without a proportionable degree of wisdom. Burke. Proportionable, which is no longer much favored, was of our [i. e., English writers'] own coining. Fitzed. Hall.

Having a due proportion, or comparative relation; being in suitable proportion or degree; as, the parts of an edifice are proportional. Milton.

In proportion; in due degree; adapted relatively; as, all parts of the building are proportionally large. Sir I. Newton.

n, system, or party. They were possessed of a spirit of proselytism in the most fanatical degree. Burke.

Extension.[Obs.] " By due degrees and long protense." Spenser.

In a proximate manner, position, or degree; immediately.

The characters of a mineral observed by the use of the blowpipe, as the degree of fusibility, flame coloration, etc.

An instrument for measuring degrees of heat above those indicated by the mercurial thermometer.

The art of measuring degrees of heat, or the expansion of bodies by heat.

Pertaining to terms of the second degree; as, a quadratic equation, in which the highest power of the unknown quantity is a square.

Of or pertaining to the second degree.