prima
Pronunciation
- /ˈpri.maː/[1]
Forms
prima (not comparable)[1] An informal variant is priem.[1]
Etymology
It is borrowed from Italian prima (“first”), the feminine of primo, taken from phrases such as prima sorte (“first sort, best wares”) and della prima classe (“of the first class”).[2][3][4] The Italian word continues Latin prīmus (“first”), from *prīsmos, the superlative of Old Latin prī (“before”), which is related to prae (“before”) (see pre-).[2]
In trade Italian supplied ⟨prima⟩, ⟨secunda⟩ and ⟨tertia⟩ “first, second, third” for grades of goods, and only the first survived.[2][1] The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal allows that the noun may come from Italian or from Latin, and thinks that the adjective was mostly abstracted from compounds such as primatabak “tobacco of the first grade”, understood as ⟨prima tabak⟩ “excellent tobacco”; the adverb grew out of the adjective.[5]
Earliest recorded meaning
The word is first recorded as a noun in 1542, for the first copy of a bill of exchange that was drawn up in several copies.[3][5] Weiland's dictionary of 1824 has prima-wisselbrief together with prima ballerina and prima donna.[2]
Semantic evolution
In 1860–1861 a trade text describes three grades of cotton, usually labelled prima, secunda and tertia.[2][5] From such labels came van prima kwaliteit “of the best quality” (1868), and compounds like prima-tabak and prima-haring (both 1899) and prima-graan “the best brewing grain” (1926).[2][6] The adjective is attested by itself in 1896 (prima soorten) and was applied to a soap powder in 1900 and to rayon in 1919.[5][2]
The general sense “excellent” followed, and by 1940 the adverb was used in alles prima in orde “everything in perfect order”.[5] Koenen's dictionary of 1952 records (dat is) prima! “fine, all right”, and in colloquial use prima can now mean no more than “satisfactory”.[2][1] The word went into Indonesian as prima “first, finest”.[7]
Timeline
- 1542 – Prima is first recorded as a noun, “first bill of exchange”.[3]
- 1824 – Weiland lists prima-wisselbrief, prima ballerina and prima donna.[2]
- 1860–1861 – Trade grades are labelled prima, secunda and tertia.[2]
- 1868 – Van prima kwaliteit “of the best quality” is recorded.[2][6]
- 1896 – The adjective is attested by itself in prima soorten.[5]
- 1899 – Prima-tabak and prima-haring appear.[2]
- 1940 – The adverb is used in alles prima in orde.[5]
- 1952 – Koenen records the exclamation (dat is) prima![2]
Meanings
Adjective
- excellent, very good: We hebben prima gegeten.[8][1]
- (informal) Fine, all right, satisfactory but not exceptional: Morgen om tien uur? Prima.[1][2]
Adverb
Noun
Word family
- primatabak
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
- ^ a b c Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
- ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2005), Groot leenwoordenboek, Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
- ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
- ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
- ^ a b Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers