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   Prime

   /prīm/

   

   adjective

   • 1. of first importance; main: "her prime concern is the well-being of the patient" Similar mainchiefkeyprimarycentralprincipalforemostfirstmost importantparamountmajordominantsupremeoverridingcardinalpreeminentultimateinformal: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 Asuperiorsupremeflawlesschoiceselectfinestsuperlativepeakoptimalmodelexcellentmarvelousmagnificentsuperbfinewonderfulexceptionalformidabletop of the rangetop of the lineinformal:tip-topA1stellartop-notchOpposite inferior
   • ▪ having all the expected or typical characteristics of something: "the novel is a prime example of the genre" Similar archetypalprototypicaltypicalclassicidealexcellentstandardstockconventionalcharacteristicquintessential
   • ▪ most suitable or likely: "it's the prime contender for best comedy of the year"
   • 3. (of a number) evenly divisible only by itself and one (e.g., 2, 3, 5, 7, 11).
   • ▪ (of two or more numbers in relation to each other) having no common factor but one: "a congruence whose modulus is a number prime to"

   noun

   • 1. a state or time of greatest strength, vigor, or success in a person's life: "you're in the prime of life"
   • ▪ the beginning or first period of something: archaic "the prime of the world"
   • 2. a service forming part of the Divine Office, traditionally said (or chanted) 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 standard parrying positions.
   • 6. short for prime rate

   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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