Middle English Dictionary Entry
prīme adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | prīme adj. Also (error) pime. |
| Etymology | OF prim(e & L prīmus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) First, original, most basic; ~ age, the most vigorous period of life, prime; (b) of the moon: new, entering its first phase; (c) qualitees ~, the four primary qualities: heat, coldness, wetness, dryness; (d) as noun: the former.
Associated quotations
a
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1694 : Alas!..I in prime loue thus beraft off my gladnes; And yyt a mayd neuer louyd but one.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.34 : Þe hertis..myȝte nat passe þe poynte of her prime age.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)117 : Kynge Ventres..was a moche man of body, and a gode knyght and yonge, of prime barbe.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)3/82 : This book shal be of love, and the pryme causes of steringe in that doinge.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)41/113 : He his loving and trewe, and everlasting, and pryme cause of al being thinges.
b
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.71 : If a man wasshe his mowþe & hold it vnnder his townge, as longe as þe mone is waxyng, a man may dyne [read: dyuyn] fro þe morne to mydday & þe cours to-for day &, wehen sche is prime þen, last her post al daye.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.80 : Whene þe mone is pryme, þen duret his myȝt al day.
c
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1474 : And firste to geve you a shorte doctryne Of the forsaid iiij qualitees pryme: Hete and colde be qualitees actyve; Moistour and drynys be qualitees passyve.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1493 : Bi these forsaide iiij qualitees prime, we sech coloure with lenght of tyme.
d
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)464 : I was siluere, perfite throwgh fyne; Now am I golde excellent, better þan the prime.
2.
In phrase at (the) ~ face: (a) at first sight; at once, immediately; initially; (b) upon cursory or superficial examination.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5811 : Þus he answered at þe prime face.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1072 : At pryme face, as me thouhte it due, I hym receyued at his in comyng.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3366 : Thogh she be soote att prime face, The sugre of hir drynkes all At the ende ys meynt with gall.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)10173 : He travayleth..Lowe to holde the..But thow make resistence Be tymes & at prime face Whan he begynneth to manace.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.407 : He this thing so slyȝly gan to guye At prme [read: prime] face, þat no man myȝt deme..But þat he cast knyȝtly for tavaunce His ȝonge nevewe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.919 : This accident so pitous was to here, And ek so like a sooth, at prime face..That..she did hym as thanne a grace.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)27 : For many oon..Wil ful ofte at prime face Som thing hindren and difface.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7453 : And thogh that yt, as in semynge, Be nat, at the pryme fface, Euenly shape the tenbrace, Yet affterward..Yt shal be syttynge & wel plese.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)26/57 : Exitours to tho maters wern so paynted and coloured that, at the prime face, me semed them noble and glorious to al the people.
3.
Of fine quality, excellent.
Associated quotations
- (1402) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.115 : [4 barrels of] primesak.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)196 : Argus eyed in ther inward entent, To see ther were no conspiracion Ageyn themperour, nothir thouht nor ment; To redresse all thyng bi Iugement, Thes tweyn estatis of prudence to entende, At pryme face, all outrages to Amende.
Note: Postdates prima facie sense, 2.(a).