prim
(redirected from primmest)Also found in: Thesaurus.
Related to primmest: primmer
prim 1
(prĭm)adj. prim·mer, prim·mest
1.
a. Precise or proper to the point of affectation; excessively decorous.
b. Strait-laced; prudish.
2. Neat and trim: a prim hedgerow.
v. primmed, prim·ming, prims
v.tr.
1. To fix (the face or mouth) in a prim expression.
2. To make prim, as in dress or appearance.
v.intr.
To assume a prim expression.
[Possibly from obsolete prim, formal or demure person, perhaps from Old French prin, first, delicate; see prime.]
prim′ly adv.
prim′ness n.
prim 2
(prĭm)n.
A privet.
[Short for obsolete primprint, of unknown origin.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
prim
(prɪm)adj, primmer or primmest
affectedly proper, precise, or formal
vb, prims, primming or primmed
1. (tr) to make prim
2. to purse (the mouth) primly or (of the mouth) to be so pursed
[C18: of unknown origin]
ˈprimly adv
ˈprimness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
prim
(prɪm)adj. prim•mer, prim•mest, adj.
1. formally precise or proper; prissy; prudish.
2. stiffly neat.
v.i. 3. to draw up the mouth in an affectedly nice or precise way.
v.t. 4. to make prim, as in appearance.
5. to draw (one's features) into a prim expression.
[1675–85; orig. uncertain]
prim′ly, adv.
prim′ness, n.
prim.
1. primary.
2. primitive.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
prim
Past participle: primmed
Gerund: primming
| Imperative |
|---|
| prim |
| prim |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | prim - assume a prim appearance; "They mince and prim" change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" |
| 2. | prim - contract one's lips; "She primmed her lips after every bite of food" | |
| 3. | prim - dress primly | |
| Adj. | 1. |  prim - affectedly dainty or refined refined - (used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel; "she was delicate and refined and unused to hardship"; "refined people with refined taste" |
| 2. |  prim - exaggeratedly proper; "my straitlaced Aunt Anna doesn't approve of my miniskirts"priggish, prissy, prudish, square-toed, straightlaced, straight-laced, straitlaced, strait-laced, tight-laced, victorian, puritanical proper - marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness; "proper medical treatment"; "proper manners" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
prim
adjective prudish, particular, formal, proper, precise, stiff, fussy, fastidious, puritanical, demure, starchy (informal), prissy (informal), strait-laced, priggish, anal retentive, schoolmarmish (Brit. informal), old-maidish (informal), niminy-piminy We tend to imagine that the Victorians were very prim and proper.
liberal, relaxed, casual, informal, laid-back, easy-going, carefree
liberal, relaxed, casual, informal, laid-back, easy-going, carefree
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
prim
adjectiveMarked by excessive concern for propriety and good form:
bluenosed, genteel, old-maidish, precise, priggish, prissy, proper, prudish, puritanical, strait-laced, stuffy, Victorian.
Idiom: prim and proper.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مُتَزَمِّت في سُلوكِه
upjatý
snerpet
pedáns
yfirmáta settlegur/stífur/formlegur
pabrėžtinai oficialiaipabrėžtinai oficialuspabrėžtinas oficialumas
pārlieku formāls/oficiāls/ieturēts
çok ciddî
prim
[prɪm] ADJ (primmer (compar) (primmest (superl))) (also prim and proper) (= formal) → formal, estirado; (= demure) → remilgado, cursi; (= prudish) → mojigato, gazmoñoCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
prim
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
prim
[prɪm] adj (-mer (comp) (-mest (superl))) (demure, person, dress) → per benino; (house, garden) → in cui nulla è fuori posto; (manner, smile) → compassato/a; (prudish) (also prim and proper) → per beninoCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
prim
(prim) adjective (of a person, behaviour etc) too formal and correct. a prim manner; a prim old lady.
ˈprimly adverbˈprimness noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.