prim 1
— primly , adv. — primness , n.
/prim/ , adj., primmer, primmest , v. , primmed, primming .
adj.
1. formally precise or proper, as persons or behavior; stiffly neat.
v.i.
2. to draw up the mouth in an affectedly nice or precise way.
v.t.
3. to make prim, as in appearance.
4. to draw (one's face, lips, etc.) into a prim expression.
[ 1675-85; orig. uncert. ]
Syn. 1. prissy, formal, rigid.
Ant. 1. flexible.
prim 2
/prim/ , n.
privet (def. 1).
[ 1565-75; shortening of earlier primprint privet ]