[pri.mate] n [ME primat, fr. OF, fr. ML primat-, primas archbishop, fr. L, leader, fr. primus] (13c) 1 often cap: a bishop who has precedence in a province, group of provinces, or a nation
2. archaic: one first in authority or rank: leader 3 [NL Primates, fr. L, pl. of primat-, primas]: any of an order (Primates) of mammals comprising humans, apes, monkeys, and related forms (as lemurs and tarsiers) -- pri.mate.ship n -- pri.ma.tial adj