/pruy"meuh see/ , n. , pl. primacies for 2, 3.
1. the state of being first in order, rank, importance, etc.
2. Also called primateship . Eng. Eccles. the office, rank, or dignity of a primate.
3. Rom. Cath. Ch. the jurisdiction of a bishop, as a patriarch, over other bishoprics, or the supreme jurisdiction of the pope as supreme bishop.
[ 1350-1400; ME primacie primatia, alter. of L primatus ( prim ( us ) PRIME + -atus -ATE 3 ); see -Y 3 ]