Pri"ma*cy (?), n. [LL. primatia, fr. L. primas, -atis, one of the first
or principal, chief, fr. primus first: cf. F. primatie. See Prime, a.]
1. The state or condition of being prime or first, as in time, place,
rank, etc., hence, excellency; supremacy. [R.] De Quincey.
2. The office, rank, or character of a primate; the chief
ecclesiastical station or dignity in a national church; the office or
dignity of an archbishop; as, the primacy of England.
||Pri"ma don"na (?); pl. E. Prima donnas (#), It. Prime (#) Donne (#).
||[It., fr. primo, prima, the first + donna lady, mistress. See Prime,
||a., and Donna.] The first or chief female singer in an opera.
||Pri"ma fa"ci*e (?). [L., from abl. of primus first + abl. of facies
||appearance.] At first view; on the first appearance.
Prima facie evidence (of a fact) (Law), evidence which is sufficient to
establish the fact unless rebutted. Bouvier.
Pri"mage (?; 48), n. [F.] (Com.) A charge in addition to the freight;
originally, a gratuity to the captain for his particular care of the
goods (sometimes called hat money), but now belonging to the owners or
freighters of the vessel, unless by special agreement the whole or part
is assigned to the captain. Homans.
Pri"mal (?), a. [LL. primalis, fr. L. primus the first. See Prime, a.]
First; primary; original; chief.
It hath the primal eldest curse upon it.
Shak.
The primal duties shine aloft like stars.
Wordsworth.