I.the first place or rank, preference, pre-eminence, primacy (ante-class. and in post-Aug. prose): “alii dant primatum bonis pratis,” Varr. R. R. 1, 7, 10: “primatum obtinere apud regem,” Plin. 24, 17, 102, § 165: “donare aliquem primatu,” id. 8, 5, 5, § 12; 13, 12, 24, § 79 (opp. secundatus).
prīmātus , ūs, m. primas,