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   prime

   /prʌɪm/

   adjective

   • 1. of first importance; main: "a nurse's prime concern is the well-being of the patient" Similar mainchiefkeyprimarycentralprincipalforemostfirstmost importantparamountmajordominantsupremeoverridingcardinalpre-eminentultimateinformal:number-onefundamentalbasicessentialelementalprimaryvitalcentralOpposite secondarysubordinatesecondary
   • ▪ from which another thing may derive or proceed: "Diogenes' conclusion that air is the prime matter"
   • 2. of the best possible quality; excellent: "prime cuts of meat" Similar top-qualityhighest qualitytoptop-tierbestfirst-classfirst-ratehigh-gradegrade Asuperiorsupremeflawlesschoiceselectfinestsuperlativepeakoptimalmodelexcellentmarvellousmagnificentsuperbfinewonderfulexceptionalformidabletop of the rangetop of the lineinformal:tip-topA1stellartop-notchOpposite inferior
   • ▪ having all the typical characteristics of something: "the novel is a prime example of the genre" Similar archetypalprototypicaltypicalclassicidealexcellentstandardstockconventionalcharacteristicquintessential
   • ▪ most suitable or likely: "any hospital with high costs is a prime candidate for closure"
   • 3. (of a number) divisible only by itself and unity (e.g. 2, 3, 5, 7, 11).
   • ▪ (of two or more numbers in relation to each other) having no common factor but unity: "a congruence whose modulus is a number prime to"

   noun

   • 1. the state or time of greatest vigour or success in a person's life: "you're in the prime of life"
   • ▪ the beginning of something: archaic "the prime of the world"
   • 2. a service forming part of the Divine Office of the Western Church, traditionally said at the first hour of the day (i.e. 6 a.m.), but now little used.
   • 3. a prime number.
   • 4. a symbol (ʹ) written after a letter or symbol as a distinguishing mark or after a figure as a symbol for minutes or feet.
   • 5. the first of eight parrying positions, used to protect the upper inside of the body, with the sword hand at head height in pronation and the tip of the blade pointing downwards.
   • 6. a special section in a cycle race, attracting a special prize.

   Word Origin Old Englishprīm (in prime1 (sense 2 of the noun)), from Latin prima (hora) ‘first (hour)’, reinforced in Middle English by Old French prime; the adjective dates from late Middle English, via Old French from Latin primus ‘first’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. primeness noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • I

     1

   • M

     3

   • E

     1

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