(prīm) adjective
1. First in rank, dignity, or importance; chief.
2. First in value or excellence; of excellent quality; first–rate.
3. First in time or order; original; primitive; primeval.
4. Math. Divisible by no whole number except itself and unity: said of a number. Two or more numbers are said to be prime to each other when they have no common factor but unity.
5. Having or pertaining to the strength and vigor of fresh maturity; blooming.
6. Original; not derived; first: opposed to secondary.
7. Marked with the sign (′). See synonyms under EXCELLENT, PRIMEVAL.
—noun
1. The period of fresh, full vigor, beauty, and power succeeding youth and preceding age; formerly, youth.
2. The period of full perfection in anything.
3. The beginning of anything, as of the day; dawn; spring.
4. The best of anything; a prime grade.
5. A prime number.
6. A mark or accent (′) written above and to the right of a letter or figure; also, an inch, a minute, etc., as indicated by that sign, used in indicating and measuring degrees.
7. Music The tonic; the interval of unison; also, a note in unison with another.
—v. primed, prim·ing v.t.
1. To prepare; make ready for some purpose.
2. To put a primer into (a gun, mine, etc.) preparatory to firing.
3. To pour water into (a pump) so as to displace air and promote suction.
4. To cover (a surface) with sizing, a first coat of paint, etc.
5. To supply beforehand with facts, information, etc.: to prime a witness.
—v.i.
6. To carry water along with the steam into the cylinder: said of a steam boiler or engine.
7. To make something ready, as for firing, pumping, etc. [<OF <L primus]
—prime′ly adverb
—prime′ness noun

(prīm) noun
1. The first canonical hour succeeding lauds; first of the day hours.
2. The office recited at this time. [OE prīm <LL prima (hora) first (hour)]