| • | Donne (#) (pl. ) of Prima donna |
| • | First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary. |
| • | First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister. |
| • | First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth. |
| • | Early; blooming; being in the first stage. |
| • | Lecherous; lustful; lewd. |
| • | Marked or distinguished by a mark (') called a prime mark. |
| • | The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring. |
| • | The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection. |
| • | That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part. |
| • | The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds. |
| • | The first of the chief guards. |
| • | Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; -- so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1. |
| • | A prime number. See under Prime, a. |
| • | An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; -- denoted by [']. See 2d Inch, n., 1. |
| • | To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge. |
| • | To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall. |
| • | To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief. |
| • | To trim or prune, as trees. |
| • | To mark with a prime mark. |
| • | To be renewed, or as at first. |
| • | To serve as priming for the charge of a gun. |
| • | To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed; -- said of a steam boiler. |
