Prime Meaning
/pɹaɪ̯m/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjFirst in importance, degree, or rank.
adjFirst in time, order, or sequence.
Sentence Examples
If I were prime minister, I'd give Clinton a good talking to.
Of course it's difficult to gain access to the Prime Minister.
My prime concern is to protect my property.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The steak was cut from a ____ piece of beef for the dinner.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She was in the ____ of her career when the unexpected illness forced her to take a long break.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English prime, from Old French prime and its etymon, Latin prīmus (“first”), from earlier prīsmos < *prīsemos < Proto-Italic *priisemos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“beyond, before”). Doublet of primo and primus. The noun sense "apostrophe-like symbol" originates from the fact that the symbol ′ was originally a superscript Roman numeral one.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I thought it lawful from my forme act, / And the ſame end ; ſtill watching to oppreſs / Iſrael’s oppreſſours : of what now I ſuffer / She was not the prime cauſe, but I my ſelf, / Who vanquiſht with a peal of words (O weakneſs !) / Gave up my fort of ſilence to a Woman."
— 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 21:
"Better to clear prime forests, heave and thump / A league of street in summer solstice down, / Than hammer at this reverend gentlewoman."
— 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part III”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 52:
"The process of recording a transaction in the accounts begins with an entry in what is termed a book of prime entry."
— 2013, Ralph Denny, Accounts for Solicitors - Page 33:
"Gemmen (says he), you all well know / The joy there is whene'er we meet; / It's what I call the primest go, / And rightly named, 'tis—'quite a treat,' […]"
— 1820, Thomas Moore, W. Simpkin, R. Marshall, Jack Randall's Diary of Proceedings at the House of Call for Genius:
""Is it very pleasant to be there, Bob?" / "Prime," said the turnkey."
— 1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, “The Child of the Marshalsea”, in Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC, 1st book (Poverty), page 50:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The steak was cut from a ____ piece of beef for the dinner.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She was in the ____ of her career when the unexpected illness forced her to take a long break.