I.nom. sing. not in use), adj. primus, the first, first (class. in plur.).
I. In gen. (rare): “imbres,” Varr. R. R. 2, 2: “dentes,” the front teeth, Plin. 7, 16, 15, § 70: “in primore pueritiā,” in earliest childhood, Gell. 10, 19, 3: “anni,” first, earliest, Sil. 1, 511: primori Marte, in the first part or beginning of the war, id. 11, 143: “primore aspectu,” at first sight, Gell. 2, 7, 6.—
II. In partic.
A. The foremost part, forepart, tip, end, extremity (class.; “syn. primus): sumere aliquid digitulis primoribus,” with the tips of one's fingers, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 24: “versabatur mihi (nomen) in labris primoribus,” is at my tongue's end, id. Trin. 4, 2, 65: “aliquid primoribus labris attingere,” to touch slightly, Cic. de Or. 1, 19, 87; cf. id. Cael. 12, 28; id. Fragm. ap. Non. 428, 3: “surculum primorem praeacuito obliquum primores digitos duos,” Cato, R. R. 40, 3; Lucil. ap. Non. 427, 27: “eduxique animam in primoribu' naribus,” id. ib. 427, 32: “nasi primoris acumen,” Lucr. 6, 1193: “(pilo) primori inest pyxis ferrea,” Plin. 18, 11, 29, § 112; 10, 33, 51, § 99: “cauda late fusa primori parte,” id. 8, 54, 80, § 216: “vestibulum esse partem domus primorem,” Gell. 16, 5, 2: “in primore libro,” at the beginning of the book, Gell. 1, 18, 3: “usque in primores manus ac prope in digitos,” as far as the forepart of the hands, id. 7, 12: “primori in acie versari,” Tac. H. 3, 21.—
B. The first in rank or dignity, chief, principal (poet. and postclass.—In Liv. 24, 20, 13, Weissenb. reads: inpigre conscriptā; v. also Madvig. ad Cic. Fin. 3, 16, 52): “Argivorum viri,” Cat. 68, 87: “feminae,” Tac. A. 2, 29: “venti,” chief, cardinal, Gell. 2, 22.—Hence, subst.: prīmō-res , um, m.
(α).
The front rank in battle, etc.: “dum inter primores promptius dimicat, sagittā ictus est,” Curt. 4, 6, 17.—
(β).
The men of the first rank, the chiefs, nobles, patricians (cf. princeps): “Amphitruo delegit viros primorum principes,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 49: “odio alienae honestatis ereptus primoribus ager,” Liv. 1, 47, 11: “primores populi arripuit,” Hor. S. 2, 1, 69: “civitatum primores atque optimates,” Col. 12, 3, 10: “primores, ac duces,” Juv. 15, 40: “ex primoribus,” Tac. A. 13, 30; 4, 33; Vulg. 2 Macc. 8, 9.