Word Study
[2x]
: Pâ Pæ Pè Pé Pœ P- P. P/ P< Pa Pb Pc Pd Pe Pf Ph Pi Pj Pk Pl Pm Pn Po Pp Pr Ps Pt Pu Pv Pw Px Py
prim
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.
--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, woodenROGET 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.For further exploring for "prim" in Webster Dictionary Online