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Formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice; as, prim regularity; a prim person. Swift.

The first or chief female singer in an opera.

At first view; on the first appearance. Prima facie evidence (of a fact) (Law), evidence which is sufficient to establish the fact unless rebutted. Bouvier.

The state or condition of being prime or first, as in time, place, rank, etc., hence, excellency; supremacy. [R.] De Quincey.

A charge in addition to the freight; originally, a gratuity to the captain for his particular care of the goods (sometimes called hat money), but now belonging to the owners or freighters of the vessel, unless by special agreement the whole or part is assigned to the captain. Homans.

First; primary; original; chief. It hath the primal eldest curse upon it. Shak. The primal duties shine aloft like stars. Wordsworth.

The quality or state of being primal. [Obs.]

In a primary manner; in the first place; in the first place; in the first intention; originally.

The quality or state of being primary, or first in time, in act, or in intention. Norris.

First in order of time or development or in intention; primitive; fundamental; original. The church of Christ, in its primary institution. Bp. Pearson. These I call original, or primary, qualities of body. Locke.

One of the Primates.

The highest order of mammals. It includes man, together with the apes and monkeys. Cf. Pitheci.

The office, dignity, or position of a primate; primacy.

Primatical. [R.] D'Anville (Trans. ).

Of or pertaining to a primate. Barrow.

First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary. "Prime forests." Tennyson. She was not the prime cause, but I myself. Milton.

At first; primarily. [Obs.] South.

The quality or state of being prime, or excellent.

One who, or that which, primes; specifically, an instrument or device for priming; esp., a cap, tube, or water containing percussion powder or other capable for igniting a charge of gunpowder.

A game at cards, now unknown. Shak.