Part 535

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 [′]. See 2d Inch, n., 1.

Prime of the moon, the new moon at its first appearance.

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 (a surface), 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.]

5. (Math.) To mark with a prime mark.

To prime a pump, to charge a pump with water, in order to put it in working condition.

Prime, v. i. 1. To be renewed, or as at first. [Obs.]

Night's bashful empress, though she often wane, As oft repeats her darkness, primes again.

Quarles.

2. To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.

3. 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.

Prime"ly, adv. 1. At first; primarily. [Obs.] South.

2. In a prime manner; excellently.

Prime"ness, n. 1. The quality or state of being first.

2. The quality or state of being prime, or excellent.

Prim"er (?), n. One who, or that which, primes; specifically, an instrument or device for priming; esp., a cap, tube, or water containing percussion powder or other compound for igniting a charge of gunpowder.

Prim"er, a. [OF. primer, primier, premier, F. premier. See Premier.] First; original; primary. [Obs.] "The primer English kings." Drayton.

Primer fine (O. Eng. Law), a fine due to the king on the writ or commencement of a suit by fine. Blackstone. -- Primer seizin (Feudal Law), the right of the king, when a tenant in capite died seized of a knight's fee, to receive of the heir, if of full age, one year's profits of the land if in possession, and half a year's profits if the land was in reversion expectant on an estate for life; -- now abolished. Blackstone.