Hypertext Webster Gateway: "prim"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Privet \Priv"et\, n. [Cf. Scot. privie, Prov. E. prim-print,
primwort. Prob. for primet, and perh. named from being cut
and trimmed. See, {Prim}, a., and cf. {Prime} to prune,
{Prim}, n., {Prie}, n.] (Bot.)
An ornamental European shrub ({Ligustrum vulgare}), much used
in hedges; -- called also {prim}.
{Egyptian privet}. See {Lawsonia}.
{Evergreen privet}, a plant of the genus {Rhamnus}. See
{Alatern}.
{Mock privet}, any one of several evergreen shrubs of the
genus {Phillyrea}. They are from the Mediterranean region,
and have been much cultivated for hedges and for
fancifully clipped shrubberies.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Prim \Prim\, n. [See {Privet}.] (Bot)
The privet.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Prim \Prim\, a. [OF. prim, prin, prime, first, principal. sharp,
thin, piercing, fr. L. primus first. See {Prime}, a.]
Formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice; as, prim
regularity; a prim person. --Swift.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Prim \Prim\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Primmed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Primming}.]
To deck with great nicety; to arrange with affected
preciseness; to prink.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Prim \Prim\, v. i.
To dress or act smartly. [R.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
prim
adj 1: affectedly dainty or refined [syn: {dainty}, {mincing}, {niminy-piminy},
{twee}]
2: exaggeratedly proper; "my straitlaced Aunt Anna doesn't
approve of my miniskirts" [syn: {priggish}, {prissy}, {prudish},
{puritanical}, {square-toed}, {straitlaced}, {straightlaced},
{tight-laced}, {victorian}]
v 1: assume a prim appearance: "They mince and prim"
2: contract one's lips; "She primmed her lips after every bite
of food"
3: dress primly [syn: {prim up}, {prim out}]
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