Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One who or that which primes.
  • noun A small powder-horn containing fine powder used for priming.
  • noun Any one of many cerambycid beetles whose larvæ bore into the twigs of various trees, weakening them and causing them to fall off as if pruned.
  • First; original; primary.
  • noun A first book; a small elementary book of instruction.
  • noun Specifically (ecclesiastical), in England, both before and after the Reformation, a book of private devotions, especially one authorized by the church and partially or wholly in the vernacular, containing devotions for the hours, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments. certain psalms, instruction as to elements of Christian knowledge, etc. Primers are extant dating from the fourteenth century and earlier. A reformed primer was set forth under Henry VIII. in 1545, and continued in use with alterations till 1575. A new series of primers began in 1553, and unauthorized primers were also often issued. Books of devotion closely resembling the old primers in contents and character are extensively used among Anglicans at the present day.
  • noun This is Long Primer type.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One who, or that which, primes.
  • noun Originally, a small prayer book for church service, containing the little office of the Virgin Mary; also, a work of elementary religious instruction.
  • noun A small elementary book for teaching children to read; a reading or spelling book for a beginner.
  • noun (Print.) A kind of type, of which there are two species; one, called long primer, intermediate in size between bourgeois and small pica [see Long primer]; the other, called great primer, larger than pica.
  • adjective obsolete First; original; primary.
  • adjective (O. Eng. Law) a fine due to the king on the writ or commencement of a suit by fine.
  • adjective (Feudal Law) the right of the king, when a tenant in capite died seized of a knight's fee, to receive of the heir, if of full age, one year's profits of the land if in possession, and half a year's profits if the land was in reversion expectant on an estate for life; -- now abolished.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An elementary textbook introducing a topic, or teaching basic concepts.
  • noun An elementary book for teaching children to learn the alphabet and to read, write and spell.
  • noun biology A single-stranded nucleic acid molecule required for the initiation of replication of a DNA molecule.
  • noun Any substance used to start a fire.
  • noun A small charge that burns furiously when given sufficient electrical current (Explosive primer) or when struck with force (percussion caps) that ignites the main combustable substances in explosives or ammunition.
  • noun A layer of paint designed to underlay a topcoat, used to enhance the adhesion and durability of the topcoat and help in protection of the surface.
  • noun A device used to circulate gasoline into the ignition chamber of an engine.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant
  • noun an introductory textbook
  • noun the first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • About the confusing part of it, what you see in the RDFa primer is a document intended for explaining * developers* about the topics.

    Web Teacher › RDFa needs to rethink its nomenclature 2009

  • When daylight circus-show over, he take me by hand and lead me to shady place between tents -- he sit down -- put me at he knee, and in what you call primer-book with he long brown finger he point out and make me know all those big fat letters -- yes, he do _that_.

    Stage Confidences Clara Morris

  • Yes | No | Report from matt wasson wrote 2 weeks 1 day ago what about using an epoxy in the back to mount a bolt that will go thru barn wood that I can affix using a nut my buddies dad even incorparated the used shell into the mount but cutting the brass in half and then putting the part where the primer is so it could be seen??

    I'm looking to mount a set of antlers from an 8 point I harvested this year. 2010

  • I won't even try it on my in-line Austin Halleck because the primer is held by a spring wrapped partially open primer system.

    Will blackhorn 209 powder work in a flintlock? 2009

  • I won't even try it on my in-line Austin Halleck because the primer is held by a spring wrapped partially open primer system.

    Will blackhorn 209 powder work in a flintlock? 2009

  • Yes | No | Report from matt wasson wrote 2 weeks 1 day ago what about using an epoxy in the back to mount a bolt that will go thru barn wood that I can affix using a nut my buddies dad even incorparated the used shell into the mount but cutting the brass in half and then putting the part where the primer is so it could be seen??

    I'm looking to mount a set of antlers from an 8 point I harvested this year. 2010

  • But Gilbert has given the antiquated institution a thorough once-over, and the clear-eyed primer is a must-read for any modern woman contemplating a trip down the aisle.

    Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert: Book summary 2010

  • Load in rifle and extract to see if the primer is stil protruding.

    Paper Versus Meat 2008

  • The lighter titanium pin doesn't have the moxie to ignite the primer from the momentum of a mere fall.

    Winner Announced, and Charlton Heston Appreciated 2008

  • For commercial vehicle cognescenti the van pictured is the 5/6 cwt 10hp 4 cylinder version, costing £140 plus £15 tax (in primer).

    Any Excuse Peter Ashley 2008

Comments

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  • Book of A,B,Cs; one who primes, igniter.

    November 22, 2007