PRI 
down. Under tliis press are laid five, six, 
&c. pieces at the same time, all furnished 
with their pasteboards and iron plates. 
When the plates are well cold, the stuffs 
are taken out and stitched a little together 
to keep them in the plaits. This manner 
of pressing was only invented to cover the 
defects of the stuffs; and, accordingly, it 
has been frequently prohibited. 
PRIMjE viw, among physicians, denote 
the whole alimentary duct ; including the 
oesophagus, stomach, and intestines, with 
their appendages. 
PRIMATES, in natural history, the first 
order of Mammalia in the Linnman system. 
The animals in tiiis order are furnished with 
fore-teeth, or cutting teeth : the four above 
are parallel : two breasts on the chests. 
There are four genera, viz. 
Homo Simia 
Lemur Vespertilio. 
PRIME, an appellation given to what- 
ever is fi\st in order, degree, or dignity 
among several things of the same or like 
kind. Thus, we say the prime minister, 
prime cost, &c. Prime is sometimes used 
to denote the same with decimal, or the 
tenth part of an unit. In weights it stands 
for the twenty-fourth part of a grain. 
Prime figure, in geometry, one which 
cannot be divided into any other figures 
more simple than itself, as a triangle among 
planes, and the pyramid among solids. 
Prime numbers, in arithmetic, are those 
which can be only measured by unity, or 
exactly divided without a remainder, 1 be- 
ing the only aliquot part, as 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 
&c. : they are sometimes called simple, or 
incomposite numbers. No even number is 
prime, because all even numbers are di- 
visible by 2. Numbers ending in 0 and 5, 
are not prime, because they are all divisi- 
ble by 5, and those ending in 0 by 10 
also. 
Prime of the moon, is the new moon, 
when she first appears, which is about three 
days after the change. 
Prime vertical, is that vertical circle 
•which passes through the polesuof the meri- 
dian, or the east and west points of the ho- 
rizon ; whence dials projected on the plane 
of this circle are called prime vertical, or 
north and south dials. 
PRIMING, or Prime of a Gun, is the 
gunpowder put into the pan or touch-hole 
of a piece, to give it fire thereby. And 
this is the last thing done in charging. For 
pieces of ordnance they have a pointed iron 
RRI 
rod, to pierce the cartridge through the 
touch-hole, called primer or priming-iron. 
Priming, among painters, signifies the 
laying on of the first colour. ' 
PRIMITIVE, the first fruits gathered of 
the earth, whereof the ancients made pre- 
sents to the gods. In our law, the primitim 
are one year’s profits, after avoidance of 
every spiritual living, as rated in the King’s 
books. 
PRIMITI'VE, in grammar, is a root or 
original word in a language, in contradis- 
tinction to derivative. Thus, God is a pri- 
mitive, godly derivative, and god-like a 
compound. 
PRIMULA, in botany, primrose, a ge- 
nus of the Pentandria Monogynia class and 
Older. Natural order of Precim. Lysi- 
machias, Jussieu. Essential character : in- 
volucre of an umbellet ; corolla tube cylin- 
drical with a spreading mouth. There are 
twenty species. 
PRIMUM mobile, in the Ptolemaic 
astronomy, the ninth or highest sphere of 
the heavens, whose centre is that of the 
universe. 
PRINCE, in polity, a person invested 
with the supreme command of a state, in- 
dependent of any other. Prince also de- 
notes a person who is a sovei-eign in his own 
territories, yet holds of some other as his 
superior ; such are the princes of Germany, 
who, though absolute in their respective 
principalities, are bound to the Emperor in 
certain services. Prince also denotes tbs' 
issue of princes, or those of the royal family. 
In France, they are called princes of the 
blood. In England, the King’s children are 
called sons and daughters of England : the 
eldest son is created Prince of Wales. The 
cadets are created Dukes or Earls, as the 
King pleases. And the title of all the chil- 
dren is royal highness : all subjects are to 
kneel when admitted to kiss their hand, 
and at table, out of the King’s presence, 
they are served on the knee. It is high 
treason to violate the eldest daughter un- 
married. 
The Prince of Wales is born Duke of 
Cornwall, and immediately entitled to all 
the revenues belonging thereto. He is 
afterwards created Prince of Wales by in- 
vestiture with a cap, coronet, gold verge, 
and ring, and he holds it by patent. The 
title and principality were first given by 
Edward I. to his eldest son. Wliile Nor- 
mandy remained to England, he was styled 
Duke of Normandy; but since the union 
bis title is Magna Britannia Princeps. He 
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