primus Latin · revision 5038

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Naevius|origins=itc-pro *prīzmos}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpriː.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpriː.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prīmus''' (feminine prīma, neuter prīmum, adverb prīmō); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*prīzmos]], a superlative of the old preposition *pri, *prei, also seen in the comparative [[prior]] and in [[prīscus]].^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The OLD reconstructs *prismo- and compares [[pgn|prismu|t=first (feminine)]].^(OLD 2012) The preposition is perhaps from [[ine-pro|*préy]], from [[ine-pro|*per-|t=before, in front]].^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) Compare [[osc|promom|t=first]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler and the OLD give Naevius first,^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) with Proserpina walking at the front.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense was spatial: foremost, leading (''prīmī pedēs'' the forefeet, ''prīmī dentēs'' the front teeth), the front part of something, and the outermost or extreme part.^(OLD 2012) In time it meant earliest and the first part of a period, as in ''prīmō vēre'' “at the beginning of spring”.^(OLD 2012) Predicatively it meant being the first to do something.^(OLD 2012) In poetry it could mean eastern, belonging to the rising sun, and in philosophy it meant primary or fundamental; it also described elementary principles and things in their early stages.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''prīmus'', first in order of appearance, from [[prīnceps]], first to act with others following his example.^(Döderlein 1874) In medieval Latin the noun ''prīmus'' was a man of the upper class, and ''prīmī'' the great men of a realm or of the king's court.^(Niermeyer 1976) English uses the phrase ''primus inter pares'', “first among equals”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of Proserpina walking at the front.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius speaks of the first figs of the season.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the primary bodies, the atoms.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – ''prīmī'' are the great men of a realm.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Foremost, [[m|en|leading]], at the front.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Outermost, extreme; the tip of.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|first]] in time, earliest; the beginning of.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(predicative)'' The first to do or experience something.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(poetic)'' Eastern.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|primary]], fundamental; elementary.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Chief, principal, most excellent.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A man of the upper class, ''(plural)'' the great men of a realm.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[apprīmus]]

+ * [[prīmaevus]]

+ * [[prīmānus]]

+ * [[prīmās]]

+ * [[prīmātus]]

+ * [[prīmicērius]]

+ * [[prīmifōrmis]]

+ * [[prīmigenius]]

+ * [[prīmigenus]]

+ * [[prīmipara]]

+ * [[prīmipīlus]]

+ * [[primipotens]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prior]]

+ * [[prīnceps]]

+ * [[en|prime]]

+ * [[en|primary]]

+ * [[en|prince]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}