from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Primary \Pri"ma*ry\, a. [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F.
primaire. See {Prime}, a., and cf. {Premier}, {Primero}.]
1. First in order of time or development or in intention;
primitive; fundamental; original.
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The church of Christ, in its primary institution.
--Bp. Pearson.
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These I call original, or primary, qualities of
body. --Locke.
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2. First in order, as being preparatory to something higher;
as, primary assemblies; primary schools.
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3. First in dignity or importance; chief; principal; as,
primary planets; a matter of primary importance.
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4. (Geol.) Earliest formed; fundamental.
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5. (Chem.) Illustrating, possessing, or characterized by,
some quality or property in the first degree; having
undergone the first stage of substitution or replacement.
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{Primary alcohol} (Organic Chem.), any alcohol which possess
the group {CH2.OH}, and can be oxidized so as to form a
corresponding aldehyde and acid having the same number of
carbon atoms; -- distinguished from {secondary & tertiary
alcohols}.
{Primary amine} (Chem.), an amine containing the amido group,
or a derivative of ammonia in which only one atom of
hydrogen has been replaced by a basic radical; --
distinguished from {secondary & tertiary amines}.
{Primary amputation} (Surg.), an amputation for injury
performed as soon as the shock due to the injury has
passed away, and before symptoms of inflammation
supervene.
{Primary axis} (Bot.), the main stalk which bears a whole
cluster of flowers.
{Primary colors}. See under {Color}.
{Primary meeting}, a meeting of citizens at which the first
steps are taken towards the nomination of candidates, etc.
See {Caucus}.
{Primary pinna} (Bot.), one of those portions of a compound
leaf or frond which branch off directly from the main
rhachis or stem, whether simple or compounded.
{Primary planets}. (Astron.) See the Note under {Planet}.
{Primary qualities of bodies}, such are essential to and
inseparable from them.
{Primary quills} (Zool.), the largest feathers of the wing of
a bird; primaries.
{Primary rocks} (Geol.), a term early used for rocks supposed
to have been first formed, being crystalline and
containing no organic remains, as granite, gneiss, etc.;
-- called also {primitive rocks}. The terms Secondary,
Tertiary, and Quaternary rocks have also been used in like
manner, but of these the last two only are now in use.
{Primary salt} (Chem.), a salt derived from a polybasic acid
in which only one acid hydrogen atom has been replaced by
a base or basic radical.
{Primary syphilis} (Med.), the initial stage of syphilis,
including the period from the development of the original
lesion or chancre to the first manifestation of symptoms
indicative of general constitutional infection.
{Primary union} (Surg.), union without suppuration; union by
the first intention.
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