n. [ See Privet. ] (Bot) The privet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. prim, prin, prime, first, principal. sharp, thin, piercing, fr. L. primus first. See Prime, a. ] Formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice; as, prim regularity; a prim person. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To dress or act smartly. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Primmed p. pr. & vb. n. Primming. ] To deck with great nicety; to arrange with affected preciseness; to prink. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. primatia, fr. L. primas, -atis, one of the first or principal, chief, fr. primus first: cf. F. primatie. See Prime, a. ] 1. The state or condition of being prime or first, as in time, place, rank, etc., hence, excellency; supremacy. [ R. ] De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The office, rank, or character of a primate; the chief ecclesiastical station or dignity in a national church; the office or dignity of an archbishop; as, the primacy of England. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ pl. E. Prima donnas It. Prime onne /plw>. [ It., fr. primo, prima, the first + donna lady, mistress. See Prime, a., and Donna. ] The first or chief female singer in an opera. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L., from abl. of primus first + abl. of facies appearance. ] At first view; on the first appearance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prima facie evidence (of a fact) (Law), evidence which is sufficient to establish the fact unless rebutted. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] (Com.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. primalis, fr. L. primus the first. See Prime, a. ] First; primary; original; chief. [ 1913 Webster ]

It hath the primal eldest curse upon it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The primal duties shine aloft like stars. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being primal. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]