• adj. 主要的；最好的；基本的
• adv. 極好地
• n. 初期；青年；精華；全盛時期
• vt. 使準備好；填裝
• vi. 作準備
• n. (Prime)人名；(英)普賴姆；(德)普里梅

來自拉丁語primus,第一的，最初的，首要的，來自古拉丁語pri,在前，來自PIE*per,向前，在前，詞源同ford,first.-im,最高級后綴，詞源同ultimate,maximum.

prime

prime: [OE] Latin prīmus ‘first’ came from an earlier *prīsmo-, which went back ultimately to Indo-European *pro ‘before, in front’ (ancestor also of English first). English first acquired it direct from Latin in the Anglo-Saxon period as an ecclesiastical term for the earliest of the canonical hours, and this is the source of the modern English noun uses of the word (as in ‘in one’s prime’).

The adjective prime was borrowed in the 14th century from Old French prime. English has a wide range of words that go back to derivatives of Latin prīmus, including premier [15], prim, primal [17], primary [15], primate [13], primitive [14], prince, principal, and principle. The trade-name Primus was first used for a sort of paraffin lamp in the early years of the 20th century.
=> first, premier, prim, primitive, prince, principle

prime (adj.)

late 14c., "first in order," from Latin primus "first, the first, first part," figuratively "chief, principal; excellent, distinguished, noble" (source also of Italian and Spanish primo), from pre-Italic *prismos, superlative of PIE *preis- "before," from root *per- (1) "beyond, through" (see per).

Meaning "first in importance" is from 1610s in English; that of "first-rate" is from 1620s. Arithmetical sense (as in prime number) is from 1560s; prime meridian is from 1878. Prime time originally (c. 1500) meant "spring time;" broadcasting sense of "peak tuning-in period" is attested from 1961.

prime (n.)

"earliest canonical hour" (6 a.m.), Old English prim, from Medieval Latin prima "the first service," from Latin prima hora "the first hour" (of the Roman day). Meaning "most vigorous stage" first recorded 1530s; specifically "springtime of human life" (often meaning ages roughly 21 to 28) is from 1590s. In classical Latin, noun uses of the adjective meant "first part, beginning; leading place."

prime (v.)

"to fill, charge, load" (a weapon), 1510s, probably from prime (adj.). Meaning "to cover with a first coat of paint or dye" is from c. 1600. To prime a pump (c. 1840) meant to pour water down the tube, which saturated the sucking mechanism and made it draw up water more readily. Related: Primed; priming.

1. The Prime Minister has been briefed by her parliamentary aides.

首相已聽取了她議會助手的簡要匯報。

來自柯林斯例句

2. The carpet was a wedding present from the Prime Minister.

這張地毯是首相送的結(jié)婚禮物。

來自柯林斯例句

3. There is good news of a kind for the Prime Minister.

對總理來說也算是有個好消息。

來自柯林斯例句

4. The Prime Minister has promised that Israel will play a constructive role.

首相承諾以色列將發(fā)揮積極的作用。

來自柯林斯例句

5. The prime minister gave his full support to the government's reforms.

首相對政府改革予以全力支持.

來自柯林斯例句