Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A mammal of the order Primates, comprising of apes (including humans), monkeys, lemurs, tarsiers, lorisids, and galagos.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An anthropoid; ape including human.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
In the Catholic Church, a rare title conferred to or claimed by the sees of certain archbishops, or the highest-ranking bishop of a present or historical, usually political circumscription.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Christianity
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
In the Orthodox Church, the presiding bishop of an ecclesiastical jurisdiction or region. Usually, the expression primate refers to the first hierarch of an autocephalous or autonomous Orthodox church. Less often, it is used to refer to the ruling bishop of an archdiocese or diocese.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
In the Anglican Church, an archbishop, or the highest-ranking bishop of an ecclesiastic province.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
any placental mammal of the order Primates; has good eyesight and flexible hands and feet
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: placental, placental mammal, eutherian, eutherian mammal
Narrower terms: simian, ape, anthropoid, hominoid, hominid, monkey, prosimian, lemur, tarsier
noun
a senior clergyman and dignitary
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: archpriest, hierarch, high priest, prelate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: priest
Narrower terms: Inge, William Ralph Inge, Gloomy Dean, Jimenez de Cisneros, Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros, Newman, John Henry Newman, Cardinal Newman, Richelieu, Duc de Richelieu, Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu, Tutu, Desmond Tutu, Ussher, James Ussher, Usher, James Usher, Wykeham, William of Wykeham, Wyszynski, Stefan Wyszynski
History
First attested in 1876. From French primate, from the substantivization of Latin prīmās, prīmātis (“one of the first, chief, excellent, noble”), same as Etymology 2. So named due to the belief that primates are the highest order of mammals or animals.
First attested in c. 1275. From Middle English primat(e), from Old French primat (French primat), from Late Latin prīmās, prīmātis (“chief bishop”), substantivisation of prīmās (same as Etymology 1), from prīmus (“prime, first in rank (also as a substantive)”). Compare English primus, of similar derivation and meaning.
Across languages
94 source translations are retained for this English entry.
