in any undertaking or work; as, Clarkson was the prime mover in English antislavery agitation. — Prime
number (Arith.), a number which is exactly divisible by no number except itself or unity, as 5, 7, 11.
— Prime vertical (Astron.), the vertical circle which passes through the east and west points of the
horizon. — Prime-vertical dial, a dial in which the shadow is projected on the plane of the prime
vertical. — Prime-vertical transit instrument, a transit instrument the telescope of which revolves
in the plane of the prime vertical, — used for observing the transit of stars over this circle.
Prime
(Prime) n.
1. The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the
spring. Chaucer.
In the very prime of the world.
Hooker.
Hope waits upon the flowery prime.
Waller. 2. The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection. "Cut off in their prime."
Eustace. "The prime of youth." Dryden.
3. That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.
Give him always of the prime.
Swift. 4. [F. prime, LL. prima (sc. hora). See Prime, a.] The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first
canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.
Early and late it rung, at evening and at prime.
Spenser. Originally, prime denoted the first quarter of the artificial day, reckoned from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. Afterwards,
it denoted the end of the first quarter, that is, 9 a. m. Specifically, it denoted the first canonical hour, as
now. Chaucer uses it in all these senses, and also in the sense of def. 1, above.
They sleep till that it was pryme large.
Chaucer. 5. (Fencing) The first of the chief guards.
6. (Chem.) 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. [Obs. or Archaic]
7. (Arith.) A prime number. See under Prime, a.
8. An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; — denoted by [&prime]. See 2d
Inch, n., 1.
Prime of the moon, the new moon at its first appearance.
Prime
(Prime), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Primed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Priming.] [From Prime, a.]
1. To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.
2. To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.
3. To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are
primed for mischief. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
4. To trim or prune, as trees. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
