primary English · revision 2711

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1425|origins=la prīmus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpraɪ.mər.i/, US /ˈpraɪ.mer.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|primarie]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|la|prīmārius|t=of the first rank, chief, principal, excellent]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) in Late Latin also “basic, primary”,^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|prīmus|t=first]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[prime]], with the suffix [[-ary]].^(Barnhart 1988) It is a doublet of [[premier]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Earliest, most basic, first in time or sequence: probably before 1425, in a translation of Chauliac's ''Grande Chirurgie'',^(Barnhart 1988) the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The OED's first example is from 1471.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “First or highest in rank or importance” is from 1565,^(OED 1989) the 1560s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) “Not derived from something else, original” is from before 1631, and “direct, first-hand” from 1621.^(OED 1989) ''Primary color'' is from the 1610s.^(Etymonline) The sense “first in development, elementary” is from about 1800, first in education:^(Etymonline) ''primary school'' is by 1793, translating French école primaire.^(Etymonline) The noun, the first or most important thing, is from 1760 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1656 in Merriam-Webster and before 1721 in Barnhart.^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1988) The American ''primary election'' is from 1835 in a US context,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and ''primary'' alone, a party's nominating election, from before 1861 in Barnhart, by 1855 in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – earliest, original.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1565 – first in rank or importance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610s – ''primary color''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1621 – direct, first-hand.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1793 – ''primary school''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1835 – ''primary election''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1855 – noun, a primary election.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # First or highest in rank or importance; [[principal]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # First in time or order; earliest; [[original]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Basic or [[fundamental]]; not derived from anything else.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of education, for young children: ''primary school''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Direct, first-hand: ''primary sources''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An election in which members of a party choose its candidates.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Something first in rank or importance; a [[primary color]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[primariness]]

+ * [[primarily]]

+ * [[postprimary]]

+ * [[preprimary]]

+ * [[subprimary]]

+ * [[primary care]]

+ * [[primary color]]

+ * [[primary producer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prime]]

+ * [[premier]]

+ * [[primal]]

+ * [[primitive]]

+ * [[prince]]

+ * [[primer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}