prim — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Of a person, their manner or appearance: Formal and precise; stiffly decorous.

   Examples

   Philemon was in great Surprize,⁠ And hardly could believe his Eyes, Amaz’d to ſee her look ſo prim; And ſhe admir’d as much at him.

   God damn it, what does she want of me, this sad, beautiful bridgeplayer of the Fifth Floor, with her air of lost love and her prim carnality?

   More examples (1)

   And although Paul shares an apartment with his prim wife, aptly named Prudence, they rarely see or speak to each other.

2. Prudish; straight-laced.

   Usage

   • broadly
   • of a person

   Examples

   He took great joy in the knight's two daughters. The younger was the more beautiful, but so prim she hardly spoke to Goldmund.

3. Of things: Neat; trim.

   Examples

   prim regularity

Verb

1. To make one's expression prim.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Intransitive

2. To give a prim or demure expression to (one's face, mouth, or (rare) lips).

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Transitive

3. To dress (one) up affectedly or demurely.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Transitive

Noun

1. A prim person.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Obsolete

   Related words

   primp

Noun

1. privet

   Usage

   • Archaic

Adjective

1. affectedly dainty or refined

   Synonyms

   mincingniminy-piminytwee

2. exaggeratedly proper

   Synonyms

   priggishprissyprudishpuritanicalsquare-toedstraitlacedstrait-lacedstraightlacedstraight-lacedtight-lacedvictorian

   Examples

   my straitlaced Aunt Anna doesn't approve of my miniskirts

Verb

1. assume a prim appearance

   Broader terms

   change

   Examples

   They mince and prim

2. contract one's lips

   Broader terms

   compressconstrictsqueezecompactcontractpress

   Examples

   She primmed her lips after every bite of food

3. dress primly

   Synonyms

   prim upprim out

   Broader terms

   dressclotheenclothegarbraimenttoggarmenthabilitatefit outapparel