PR I 5 



mica schist, argillaceous schist, &c.), are 

 newer than others which belong to the 

 secondary groups. To obviate this confu- 

 sion, Mr. Lyell has proposed the term 

 hypogene, which will probably be adopted 



by geologists instead of primary. 3. In 



astronomy, applied to those planets which 

 revolve about the sun, in distinction from 

 the secondary planets, which revolve about 

 the primaries. 4. In physics, the pri- 

 mary qualities of bodies are such as are 

 original and inseparable from them, as 

 extension, in distinction to those qualities 

 which are secondary, as softness, hard- 

 ness, &c. 5. In optics, the primary co- 

 lours are those into which a ray of solar 



light may be separated. 6. Primary 



quills, the largest feathers of the wings. 



PRI'MATE, low Lat. primus. An arch- 

 bishop. 



PBI'MATES. In zoology, the first order 

 of animals in the class Mammalia, in the 

 system of Linne', including four genera, 

 Homo, man, Lemur, the lemur, Simia, 

 the ape, and Vespertilio, the bat. 



FaiME, from primus. 1. Aprime number 

 is one which cannot be divided without 

 remainder by any number except itself 

 and unity, as 5, 7, 11. A prime figure is 

 a geometrical which cannot be divided 

 into any other figure more simple than 



itself, as a triangle, a pyramid, &c. 



2. Primes are numbers adopted by che- 

 mists, in conformity with the doctrine 

 of definite proportions, to express the 

 ratios in which bodies enter into combina- 

 tion. Primes, duly arranged in a table, 

 constitute a scale of chemical equivalents. 

 They are supposed to express the ratios 

 of weights of atoms, according to the 



atomic theory. 3. The prime vertical is 



the vertical circle which passes through 

 the poles of the meridian, or the east and 

 west points of the horizon. Dials pro- 

 jected on the plane of this circle are called 

 prime vertical, or north and south dials. 

 Prime of the moon is the new moon, when 

 it first appears after the change. 



PBI'MER-FINE. In England, a fine due 

 to the crown on the writ or commence- 

 ment of a suit by fine. 



PRI'MER-SEI'SIN. Infeudallaw, the right 

 of the king, when a tenant in capite died 

 seised of a knight's fee, to receive from 

 the heir, if of full age, one year's profit of 

 the land if in possession, and half a year's 

 profit if the land was in reversion expect- 

 ant, on an estate for life: abolished 12 

 Charles II. 



PRI'MINE. In botany, the outermost 

 covering of an ovule. 



PRIM'INO. 1. In painting, the first co- 

 lour laid on the canvass, on the walls of a 



building, &c. 2. The powder laid in 



the pan of a gun (with a flint-lock), to 

 receive the fire from the steel, and being 

 ignited to fire the powder of the charge. 



PRI 



-3. In steam-engines, the hot water 

 carried along with the steam from the 

 boiler into the cylinders, and which is 

 always an evil. 



PRI'MINO-WIRE. A pointed wire, used 

 to penetrate the vent of a musket, &c., 

 for examining the powder of the charge, 

 or for piercing the cartridge. 



PRIMITIVE, Lat. primitivus, from pri- 

 mus ; original. 1. A term formerly used 

 in geology, in the same sense as primary 

 is at present. 2. In grammar, a primi- 

 tive is a word not derived from any other : 

 an original word. 3. In painting, pri- 

 mitive colours are red, yellow, and blue, 

 from which all other colours are com- 

 pounded. 



PHI'MO. An Italian word, meaning first ; 

 used in music in that sense, as primo 

 canto, the first treble, alto primo, the first 

 counter tenor, &c. 



PRIMOGENITURE, from primus, first, and 

 genitus, begotten ; seniority by birth 

 among children. In law, the right which, 

 belongs to the eldest son or daughter. 



PRIMOR'DIAL, Lat. primordial*. 1. First 

 in order: primus, first, and ordo, order. 

 2. First principle or element. 



PRIM'ULA. Primrose. A genus of pe- 

 rennial flowering plants. Pentandria 

 Monogynia. Name from primulus, very 

 early, because it flowers in the beginning 

 of the spring. The common primrose 

 (P. vulgaris), the cowslip or paigle (P. 

 ueris), oxlip (P. elatior], the bird's eye 

 (P. farinosa), and Scotch primrose (P. 

 *co<ij),are indigenous in Britain. There 

 are also 25 exotic species, mostly hardy 

 plants. 



PRI'MCM MOB'ILE. In the ancient at- 

 tronomy, this was the ninth or highest 

 sphere of the heavens, above those of the 

 planets and fixed stars, and including all 

 the others. 



PRIN'CEPS SENA'TCS. In ancient Rome, 

 the citizen whose name was written first 

 on the list of the Senate by the Censors. 



PRIN'CE'S METAL. Prince Rupert's Metal. 

 One of the many modifications of brass. 



PRiN'ciPALjLat. principalis, chief, from 

 princeps, sovereignty. 1. In law, & prin- 

 cipal challenge is where the cause assigned 

 carries with it prima facie evidence of 

 partiality, favour, or malice. A principal 

 is an actor or absolute perpetrator of a 



crime. 2. In commerce, a capital sum 



lent on interest, due as a debt, or used as 

 a fund, so called as distinct from interest 



or profit. 3. In architecture, a main 



timber in an assemblage of carpentry. 



4. The head of a Scottish University. 



5. In fine arts, the chief circumstance in 

 a work of art. 



PRIN'CIPLE, from principium, beginning. 

 1. In tcienre, a truth admitted either 

 without proof, or considered as having 

 been proved. lu the former sense ?t u 



