Difference between revisions of "Prime"

<p> '''(1):''' ''' (''' a.) First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister. </p> <p> '''(2):''' ''' (''' a.) First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth. </p> <p> '''(3):''' ''' (''' a.) Early; blooming; being in the first stage. </p> <p> '''(4):''' ''' (''' a.) Lecherous; lustful; lewd. </p> <p> '''(5):''' ''' (''' a.) First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary. </p> <p> '''(6):''' ''' (''' a.) [[Marked]] or distinguished by a mark (') called a prime mark. </p> <p> '''(7):''' ''' (''' n.) The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring. </p> <p> '''(8):''' ''' (''' n.) The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection. </p> <p> '''(9):''' ''' (''' n.) That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part. </p> <p> '''(10):''' ''' (''' a.) The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds. </p> <p> '''(11):''' ''' (''' a.) The first of the chief guards. </p> <p> '''(12):''' ''' (''' a.) 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. </p> <p> '''(13):''' ''' (''' a.) A prime number. See under Prime, a. </p> <p> '''(14):''' ''' (''' a.) An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; - denoted by [']. See 2d Inch, n., 1. </p> <p> '''(15):''' ''' (''' a.) To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge. </p> <p> '''(16):''' ''' (''' a.) To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall. </p> <p> '''(17):''' ''' (''' a.) To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief. </p> <p> '''(18):''' ''' (''' a.) To trim or prune, as trees. </p> <p> '''(19):''' ''' (''' a.) To mark with a prime mark. </p> <p> '''(20):''' ''' (''' v. i.) To serve as priming for the charge of a gun. </p> <p> '''(21):''' ''' (''' v. i.) 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. </p> <p> '''(22):''' ''' (''' a.) Having no common factor; - used with to; as, 12 is prime to 25. </p> <p> '''(23):''' ''' (''' a.) Divisible by no number except itself or unity; as, 7 is a prime number. </p> <p> '''(24):''' ''' (''' v. i.) To be renewed, or as at first. </p>

<p> (Lat. prima, the first '''''—''''' i.e. hour), the first of the so-called "lesser hours" of the Roman [[Breviary]] (q.v.). It may be called the public morning prayer (of that Church, and corresponds in substance with the morning service of the other ancient liturgies, allowance being made for Latin peculiarities. [[Prime]] commences with the beautiful hymn of Prudentius. Joam luais oato sidere, which is followed by three and occasionally four psalms (22, 26:54, 118); but the last portion consists of the opening verses of the 118th (in the A.V. the 159, 1-3-2) Psalm, which is continued throughout the rest of the "lesser hours." Prime concludes with prayers appropriate to the beginning of a Christian's day. See Procter, [[Commentary]] on the Book of Common Prayer, p. 187. (See [[Canonical Hours]]). </p>