prime

/ˈprīm/

Middle English, "first, original, in an initial stage," borrowed from Anglo-French, originally feminine of prim "first, earliest, original, main, most important," going back to Latin prīmus "first" (ordinal corresponding to ūnus "one, foremost, earliest, of first importance, of the highest quality,") going back to earlier *prīsmos, syncopated from *prīsomos, from dialectal Indo-European *pri "in front, before" + *-is-m̥mo-, superlative suffix (from *-is-, comparative suffix + *-m̥mo-, superlative suffix)

adjective

  1. first in rank, authority, or significance : principal

  2. having the highest quality or value

  3. of the highest grade regularly marketed —used of meat and especially beef

a prime example

prime farmland

noun

  1. the most active, thriving, or satisfying stage or period

  2. the chief or best individual or part : pick

  3. the earliest stage

in the prime of his life

verb

  1. fill, load

  2. to prepare for firing by supplying with priming

  3. to insert a primer into (a cartridge case)