Dictionary formprimus, prima, primum
Translation
first; foremost
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Examples
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He arrived first.
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They set out at first light.
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First say what you want.
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At first we were afraid, then we laughed.
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Above all, remember this.
Primus, prima, primum is a first and second declension adjective, and it is a superlative in form with no positive of its own. Its comparative partner is prior, "the earlier of two", so Latin distinguishes the first of two from the first of many in a way English does not bother to.
Two forms do adverbial duty and are not the same. The neuter accusative primum means "first, for the first time" and orders a list. The ablative primo means "at first, in the beginning" and sets up a contrast with what happened later, primo ... deinde. In primis, sometimes written imprimis, means "chiefly, above all".
Watch the "part of" idiom, which is common with adjectives of position: prima nox is not "the first night" but the first part of the night, and prima luce is at the first of the light, so at dawn. It gives prime, primary, primitive, premier and prince (princeps, "taking first place").
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Latin 路 Free printables
primus: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "primus" (first; foremost): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
This word is taught in chapter 2, lesson 1: primus, -que, ordo and 11 more words.