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primate

pri·mate

UK/ˈpɹaɪmeɪt/ US/ˈpɹaɪmət/ uncommon informal

noun

1.
2.

any placental mammal of the order Primates; has good eyesight and flexible hands and feet

Origin

First attested in c. 1275. From Middle English primat(e), from Old French primat (French primat), from Late Latin prīmās, prīmātis (“chief bishop”), substantivisation of prīmās (same as Etymology 1), from prīmus (“prime, first in rank (also as a substantive)”). Compare English primus, of similar derivation and meaning.

Phrases

  • abbot primate
  • primate city
  • Primate of All England
  • Primate of England
  • Primate of the Gauls

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.