EtymologyMap
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Today it means

prime

of first importance

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Where does the word "prime" come from? It comes from Latin primus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "prime" come from? It comes from Latin primus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Prime’s story begins in Latin: primus meant “first.” The root of 'primary' and 'prince'. It reached English by 1300s as prime. Prime numbers date from the 1500s; 'prime time' from the 1960s. Today, prime means of first importance.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient primus "first", the root of 'primary' and 'prince'.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s prime "first", prime numbers date from the 1500s; 'prime time' from the 1960s.

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