[Obs.]
Primrose
(Prim"rose`), a. Of or pertaining to the primrose; of the color of a primrose; — hence, flowery; gay.
"The primrose path of dalliance." Shak.
Primula
(||Prim"u*la) n. [LL. See Primrose.] (Bot.) The genus of plants including the primrose
Primulaceous
(Prim`u*la"ceous) a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to an order of herbaceous plants of which
the primrose is the type, and the pimpernel, the cyclamen, and the water violet are other examples.
Primum mobile
(||Pri"mum mob"i*le) [L., first cause of motion.] (Astron.) In the Ptolemaic system, the
outermost of the revolving concentric spheres constituting the universe, the motion of which was supposed
to carry with it all the inclosed spheres with their planets in a daily revolution from east to west. See
Crystalline heavens, under Crystalline.
The motions of the greatest persons in a government ought to be, as the motions of the planets, under
primum mobile.
Bacon. Primus
(||Pri"mus) n. [L., the first.] One of the bishops of the Episcopal Church of Scotland, who presides
at the meetings of the bishops, and has certain privileges but no metropolitan authority. Internat. Cyc.
Primy
(Prim"y) a. [From Prime, a.] Being in its prime. [Obs.] "The youth of primy nature." Shak.
Prince
(Prince) n. [F., from L. princeps, -cipis, the first, chief; primus first + capere to take. See Prime,
a., and Capacious.]
1. The one of highest rank; one holding the highest place and authority; a sovereign; a monarch; - - originally
applied to either sex, but now rarely applied to a female. Wyclif
Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince.
Milton.
Queen Elizabeth, a prince admirable above her sex.
Camden. 2. The son of a king or emperor, or the issue of a royal family; as, princes of the blood. Shak.
3. A title belonging to persons of high rank, differing in different countries. In England it belongs to dukes,
marquises, and earls, but is given to members of the royal family only. In Italy a prince is inferior to a
duke as a member of a particular order of nobility; in Spain he is always one of the royal family.
4. The chief of any body of men; one at the head of a class or profession; one who is preëminent; as, a
merchant prince; a prince of players. "The prince of learning." Peacham.
Prince-Albert coat, a long double-breasted frock coat for men. — Prince of the blood, Prince consort,
Prince of darkness. See under Blood, Consort, and Darkness. — Prince of Wales, the oldest
