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