first in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary.-first in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister.-first in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.-early; blooming; being in the first stage.-lecherous; lustful; lewd.-marked or distinguished by a mark (') called a prime mark.-the first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring.-the spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection.-that which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.-the morning; specifically (r. c. ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.-the first of the chief guards.-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.-a prime number. see under prime, a.-an inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; -- denoted by [']. see 2d inch, n., 1.-to apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.-to lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.-to prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief.-to trim or prune, as trees.-to mark with a prime mark.-to be renewed, or as at first.-to serve as priming for the charge of a gun.-to work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed; -- said of a steam boiler.