primer

primer · noun¹

1. Medieval Latin · derived fromprimarius
2. Middle English · inherited fromprimer
3. English todayprimer

From Middle English primer, primere, from Medieval Latin primarius and primarium (“prayer book”) possibly via Anglo-Norman primer (“prayer book”), from prima (“prime the liturgical hour and office”) + -arius and -arium (suffix forming related objects). Its use for schoolbooks derived from the late medieval and early modern use of such prayer books to teach reading.

primer · noun²

From prime + -er.

primer · adjective³

1. Latin · derived fromprīmārius“first”
2. English todayprimer

From Anglo-Norman primer (“first”), from Latin prīmārius (“first”).

Primer · proper noun⁴

Unexplained.

Words from the same roots