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.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
The quality or state of being prim, precise, or proper.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
exaggerated and arrogant properness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: priggishness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: propriety, properness, correctitude
noun
excessive or affected modesty
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: prudishness, prudery, Grundyism
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: modesty, modestness
History
Etymology tree English prim Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English primness From prim + -ness.
