premier English · revision 4501

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1448|origins=la primus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈprem.i.ə/, US /prɪˈmɪr/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|primer]], primier,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|frm|premier|t=first, chief]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|prīmārius|t=of the first rank, chief, principal]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from prīmus “first”, the source of [[prime]].^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[primary]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ First in time, earliest: 1448 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) It appears as a surname, Primer, in 1287.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ First in rank or importance is from before 1471 in Barnhart^(Barnhart 1988) and about 1470 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The noun, the first minister of a state, is from 1711,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) a shortening of ''premier minister'' (1686, in Evelyn's Diary), after French premier ministre.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) It was used of the British prime minister from 1726,^(OED 1989) of the chief minister of an Australian state or Canadian province from 1853,^(OED 1989) and occasionally of the American Secretary of State in the late 19th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1287 – as a surname.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1448 – first in time.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1470 – first in rank.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1686 – ''premier minister''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1711 – noun, a first minister.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1853 – the chief minister of a state or province.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # First in importance or rank; [[chief]] or leading.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # First in time; earliest.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[prime minister]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The head of government of a Canadian province or an Australian state.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[premiership]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[premier danseur]]

+ * [[prime]]

+ * [[primary]]

+ * [[premiere]]

+ * [[primer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}