prim

• POS: Adjective, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

prim, n. [See Privet.].

 The privet.  [1913 Webster]

prim, a. [OF. prim, prin, prime, first, principal. sharp, thin, piercing, fr. L. primus first. See Prime, a.].

 Formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice; as, prim regularity; a prim person.  Swift.  [1913 Webster]

prim, v. t. 

 To deck with great nicety; to arrange with affected preciseness; to prink.  [1913 Webster]

prim, v. i. 

 To dress or act smartly.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

prim, adj. & v.
--adj. (primmer, primmest)
1 (of a person or manner) stiffly formal and precise.
2 (of a woman or girl) demure.
3 prudish.
--v.tr. (primmed, primming)
1 form (the face, lips, etc.) into a prim expression.
2 make prim.

Derivative

primly adv. primness n.

Etymology

17th c.: prob. orig. cant f. OF prin prime excellent f. L primus first

THESAURUS

prim

Quakerish, Victorian, bluenosed, buckram, censorious, ceremonial, ceremonious, chipper, conventional, correct, decorous, demure, formal, genteel, hidebound, in buckram, mid-Victorian, narrow, neat, nice, old-maidish, orderly, overmodest, precise, prig, priggish, prissy, proper, prudish, puritanical, rigid, sanctimonious, shipshape, smug, snug, spick-and-span, starch, starched, stiff, stiff-necked, stilted, straight, straitlaced, stuffy, tidy, trim, uncluttered, well-groomed, wooden

ROGET THESAURUS

prim

Affectation

N affectation, affectedness, acting a part, pretense boasting, charlatanism, quackery, shallow profundity, pretension, airs, pedantry, purism, precisianism, euphuism, teratology, mannerism, simagree, grimace, conceit, foppery, dandyism, man millinery, coxcombry, puppyism, stiffness, formality, buckram, prudery, demureness, coquetry, mock modesty, minauderie, sentimentalism, mauvais honte, false shame, affector, performer, actor, pedant, pedagogue, doctrinaire, purist, euphuist, mannerist, grimacier, lump of affectation, precieuse ridicule, bas bleu, blue stocking, poetaster, prig, charlatan, petit maitre, flatterer, coquette, prude, puritan, affected, full of affectation, pretentious, pedantic, stilted, stagy, theatrical, big-sounding, ad captandum, canting, insincere, not natural, unnatural, self-conscious, maniere, artificial, overwrought, overdone, overacted, euphuist, stiff, starch, formal, prim, smug, demure, tire a quatre epingles, quakerish, puritanical, prudish, pragmatical, priggish, conceited, coxcomical, foppish, dandified, finical, finikin, mincing, simpering, namby-pamby, sentimental, conceit in weakest bodies strongest works.

Pride

N pride, dignity, self-respect, mens sibi conscia recti, pride, haughtiness, high notions, hauteur, vainglory, crest, arrogance, proud man, highflier, fine gentleman, fine lady, dignified, stately, proud, proud-crested, lordly, baronial, lofty- minded, highsouled, high-minded, high-mettled, high-handed, high- plumed, high-flown, high-toned, haughty lofty, high, mighty, swollen, puffed up, flushed, blown, vainglorious, purse-proud, fine, proud as a peacock, proud as Lucifer, bloated with pride, supercilious, disdainful, bumptious, magisterial, imperious, high and mighty, overweening, consequential, arrogant, unblushing, stiff, stiff-necked, starch, perked stuck-up, in buckram, strait- laced, prim, on one's dignity, on one's high horses, on one's tight ropes, on one's high ropes, on stilts, en grand seigneur, with head erect, odi profanum vulgus et arceo, a duke's revenues on her back, disdains the shadow which he treads on at noon, pride in their port, defiance in their eye.