prim

comparative primmer · superlative primmest

1. Of a person, their manner or appearance: Formal and precise; stiffly decorous.

   And although Paul shares an apartment with his prim wife, aptly named Prudence, they rarely see or speak to each other.

   2024 October 24, Judith Shulevitz, “Michel Houellebecq Has Some Fresh Predictions. Be Afraid.”, in The Atlantic

   2 more examples

   Philemon was in great Surprize,⁠ And hardly could believe his Eyes, Amaz’d to ſee her look ſo prim; And ſhe admir’d as much at him.

   1708, [Jonathan Swift], “The Metamorphosis of Baucis and Philemon, Burlesqu’d; from the 8th Book of Ovid”, in Baucis and Philemon; a Poem. […], London: […] H. Hills, […], published 1709, →OCLC, page 8

   God damn it, what does she want of me, this sad, beautiful bridgeplayer of the Fifth Floor, with her air of lost love and her prim carnality?

   1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy

2. broadlyPrudish; straight-laced.

   He took great joy in the knight's two daughters. The younger was the more beautiful, but so prim she hardly spoke to Goldmund.

   1968, Ursule Molinaro, transl., Narcissus and Goldmund, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, translation of Narziß und Goldmund by Hermann Hesse, page 105

3. Of things: Neat; trim.

   prim regularity

present singular third person prims · participle present primming · participle past primmed · past primmed

1. archaicintransitiveTo make one's expression prim.
2. archaictransitiveTo give a prim or demure expression to (one's face, mouth, or (rare) lips).
3. archaictransitiveTo dress (one) up affectedly or demurely.

plural prims

1. archaicobsoleteA prim person.

1. archaicbiologyprivet

1. A surname.