A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

prima donna --- 1782, "principal female singer in an opera," from It. prima donna "first lady," from L. prima, fem. of primus "first" + domina "lady." Meaning "temperamental person" first recorded 1834.

prima facie --- c.1420, from L., lit. "at first sight," ablative of prima facies "first appearance," from prima, fem. sing. of primus "first" + facies "form, face."

primacy --- 1382, from O.Fr. primacie, from M.L. primatia "office of a church primate" (1174), from L.L. primas (gen. primatis) "principal, chief, of the first rank" (see primate).

primal --- 1602, "belonging to the earliest age," from M.L. primalis "primary" (1485), from L. primus "first" (see prime (adj.)). Psychological sense, in ref. to Freud's theory of behaviors springing from the earliest stage of emotional development, is attested from 1918.

primary --- 1471, "of the first order," from L. primarius "of the first rank, chief, principal, excellent," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.) ). Primary color is first recorded 1612; primary school is 1802, from Fr. école primaire.

primate --- high bishop, c.1205, from M.L. primas (gen. primatis) "church primate," from L.L. adj. primas "of the first rank, chief, principal," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)). Meaning "biological order including monkeys and humans" is 1898, from Mod.L. Primates (Linnæus), from pl. of L. primas so called from supposedly being the "highest" order of mammals (originally also including bats). Hence, primatology "the study of Primates" (1941).

primavera --- spring, 1824, from It., lit. "spring time," from L. prima vera, pl. of primus ver "first spring;" for second element, see vernal.

prime (adj.) --- 1399, from L. primus "first," from pre-Italic *prismos, superl. of Old L. pri "before," from PIE base *per- "beyond," *pro- "before" (see pre-). To prime a pump (c.1840) meant to pour water down the tube, which saturated the sucking mechanism and made it draw up water more readily. Arithmetical sense (prime number) is from 1570; prime meridian is from 1878; prime minister is from 1646, applied to the First Minister of State of Great Britain since 1694. Priming "first coat of paint" is from 1609. Prime time originally (1503) meant "spring time;" broadcasting sense of "peak tuning-in period" is attested from 1964.

prime (n.) --- O.E. prim "earliest canonical hour" (6 a.m.), from M.L. prima "the first service," from L. prima hora "the first hour" (of the Roman day). Meaning "most vigorous stage" first recorded 1536; specifically "springtime of human life" (often meaning ages roughly 21 to 28) is from 1592.

prime (v.) --- to fill, charge, load (a weapon), 1513, probably from prime (adj.) (q.v.). Primer "explosive cap" is from 1819.

primer --- c.1386, "prayer-book," also "school book" (senses not distinguished in Middle Ages, as reading was taught from prayer books), from M.L. primarius, from L. primus "first" (see prime (adj.)). The exact sense is uncertain, and the word may be from prime (n.) on the same notion as a "Book of Hours." Meaning "small introductory book on any topic" is from 1807.

primeval --- 1653, from L. primævus "early in life," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + ævum "an age."

primitive --- c.1400, "of a thing from which something is derived, not secondary" (a sense now associated with primary), from O.Fr. primitif (fem. primitive), from L. primitivus "first or earliest of its kind," from primitus "at first," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)). Meaning "of or belonging to the first age" is from c.1526. In Christian sense of "adhering to the qualities of the early Church" it is recorded from 1685. Of untrained artists from 1942.

primogenitor --- an ancestor, 1475, from L.L. primogenitor (1361), from L. primo (adv.) "at first," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + genitor "father," from genitus, pp. of gignere "to beget" (see genus). The fem. form is primogenitrix (1875).

primogeniture --- 1602, "right of succession of the first-born," from M.L. primogenitura, from L.L. primogenitus "first-born," from L. primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + genitus, pp. of gignere "to beget" (see genus).

primordial --- 1398, from L.L. primordialis "first of all, original," from L. primordium "the beginning," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + stem of ordiri "to begin" (see order).

primp --- 1801, probably an extension of prim (q.v.); cf. Scot. primpit (c.1739) "delicate, nice."

primrose --- 1413, primerose, from O.Fr. primerose (12c.), from M.L. prima rosa, lit. "first rose," so called because it blooms early in spring. Parallel name primula (1101) is from O.Fr. primerole, from M.L. primula "primrose," shortened from primula veris "firstling of spring," prop. fem. of L. primulus, dim. of primus; but primerole was used in O.Fr. and M.E. of other flowers (cowslips, field daisies). The primrose path is from "Hamlet" I, iii.

primum mobile --- the first source of motion, 1460, from L. (11c.), lit. "the first movable thing;" see prime (adj.) + mobile. A translation of Ar. al-muharrik al-awwal "the first moving" (Avicenna, c.1037; Shahrastani, c.1153).

prince --- c.1225, from O.Fr. prince (12c.), from L. princeps (gen. principis) "first, chief, prince," lit. "that takes first" (adj.), from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + root of capere "to take" (see capable). Ger. cognate fürst, from O.H.G. furist "first," is apparently an imitation of the Latin form. Colloquial meaning "admirable or generous person" is from 1911, Amer.Eng.

Prince Albert --- piercing that consists of a ring which goes through the urethra and out behind the glans, mid-20c., supposedly so-called from the modern legend that Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1819-61), prince consort of Queen Victoria, had one. But the term seems to be not older than bodyart maven Doug Malloy and his circle, and the stories about the prince may be fantastical inventions. Perhaps there is some connection with Albert underworld/pawnshop slang for "gold watch chain" (1861), which is probably from the common portraits of the prince in which he is shown with a conspicuous gold watch chain. Many fashions in male dress made popular by him bore his name late 19c.

Prince Charming --- 1850, from Fr. Roi Charmant, name of the hero of Comtesse d'Aulnoy's "L'Oiseau Bleu" (1697), adopted into native fairy tales including "Sleeping Beauty" and "Cinderella."

princess --- c.1380, from O.Fr. princesse, fem. of prince (q.v.). As a colloquial form of address to a woman or girl, it is recorded from 1924.

principal (adj.) --- c.1290, from O.Fr. principal (11c.), from L. principalis "first in importance," from princeps (see prince). The noun is c.1300 in the sense of "ruler;" c.1340 in the sense of "money on which interest is paid;" 1827 as "person in charge of a public school," though meaning "head of a college or hall" was in England from 1438, and the basic sense of "chief, commander, ruler" is recorded from 1388. Principally "in the first place, mainly" is from 1340.

principality --- c.1300, "position of a prince," from O.Fr. principalite (Fr. principauté), from L.L. principalitatem (nom. principalitas), from principalis (see principal). Meaning "region or state ruled by a prince" is attested from c.1400.

principle --- c.1380, "fundamental truth or proposition," from Anglo-Norm. principle, from O.Fr. principe, from L. principium (pl. principia) "a beginning, first part," from princeps (see prince). Meaning "origin, source" is attested from 1413. Sense of "general rule of conduct" is from c.1532. Used absolutely for (good or moral) principle from 1653.

print (n.) --- c.1300, "impression, mark," from O.Fr. preinte "impression," prop. fem. pp. of preindre "to press," from L. premere (see press (v.1)). Sense of "picture or design from a block or plate" is first attested 1662. Meaning "piece of printed cloth" is from 1756. Out of print "no longer to be had from the publisher" is from 1674. The verb is attested from c.1340, "to impress with a seal, stamp, or die;" Meaning "to set a mark on any surface (including by writing)" is attested from c.1400. Meaning "to run off on a press" is recorded from 1511 (Caxton, 1474, used enprynte in this sense). In reference to textiles, 1588. The verb in the photography sense is recorded from 1851 (the noun from 1853). Meaning "to write in imitation of typography" is first attested 1837 in "Pickwick Papers":

prior (adj.) --- 1714, from L. prior "former, superior," comparative of Old L. pri "before" (see prime), related to L. præ "before" (see pre-).

prior (n.) --- superior officer of a religious house or order, 1093, from L. prior "former, superior" (see prior (adj.)).

prioress --- c.1300, from M.L. priorissa (c.1135), from prior "head of a priory of men" (see prior (n.)).

priority --- 1387, from O.Fr. priorite (14c.), from M.L. prioritatem (nom. prioritas) "fact or condition of being prior," from L. prior (see prior (adj.)). Prioritize is first recorded 1973, apparently coined during the 1972 U.S. presidential election.

priory --- c.1290, from Anglo-Fr. priorie (c.1240), from M.L. prioria "monastery governed by a prior," from L. prior (see prior (n.)).

Priscian --- from L. Priscianus, name of a celebrated Roman grammarian (c.500-530); hence to break Priscian's head (c.1525) "to violate rules of grammar" (L. diminuere Prisciani caput).

Priscilla --- fem. proper name, from L., fem. of Priscillus, dim. of Priscus, from priscus "old, ancient, primitive;" related to prior (adj.).

prism --- 1570, a type of solid figure, from L.L. prisma (Martianus Capella), from Gk. prisma (Euclid), lit. "something sawed," from prizein "to saw." Meaning in optics is first attested 1612.

prison --- c.1123, from O.Fr. prisoun "prison, imprisonment" (11c.), altered (by influence of pris "taken;" see prize (2)) from earlier preson, from L. prensionem (nom. prensio), shortening of prehensionem (nom. *prehensio) "a taking," noun of action from pp. stem of prehendere "to take" (see prehensile). Captives taken in war were called prisoners since c.1350; phrase prisoner of war dates from 1678 (see also POW).

prissy --- 1895, first attested in Joel Chandler Harris, probably an alteration of precise (q.v.), or a merger of prim and sissy. Back-formed noun priss is recorded from 1923.

pristine --- 1534, "pertaining to the earliest period, primitive, ancient," from M.Fr. pristin (fem. pristine), from L. pristinus "former," from Old L. pri "before." Meaning "unspoiled, untouched, pure" is from 1899 (implied in pristinely) but still regarded as ignorant in some circles.

prithee --- c.1522, altered from phrase (I) pray thee (see pray).

private (adj.) --- c.1380, from L. privatus "set apart, belonging to oneself" (not to the state), used in contrast to publicus, communis; originally pp. stem of privare "to separate, deprive," from privus "one's own, individual," from Old L. pri "before." Replaced O.E. syndrig. Grew popular 17c. as a preferred alternative to the snobbish overtones in common. Meaning "not open to the public" is from 1398. Of persons, "not holding public office" it is recorded from 1432. Private soldier "one below the rank of a non-commissioned officer" is from 1579. Private parts "the pudenda" is from 1785. Private enterprise first recorded 1844. Privacy is first recorded c.1450. Privatization is attested from 1959; privatize first recorded 1968.

privateer --- 1664, originally private man of war (1646), from private, probably modeled on volunteer, buccaneer.

privation --- 1340, "action of depriving," from O.Fr. privacion, from L. privationem (nom. privatio) "a taking away," from privatus, pp. of privare "deprive" (see private). Meaning "want of life's comforts or of some necessity" is attested from 1790.

privative --- 1590, "expressing negation" (as the prefixes un-, a-, etc.), from L. privativus "denoting privation, negative," from privatus, pp. of privare (see private).

privet --- type of evergreen shrub, 1542, of unknown origin. Early forms primet, primprint (1548) perhaps suggest some connection with prime.

privilege --- 1154 (recorded earlier in O.E., but as a Latin word), from O.Fr. privilege (12c.), from L. privilegium "law applying to one person," later "privilege," from privus "individual" + lex (gen. legis) "law."

privy (adj.) --- private, c.1225, from O.Fr. privé, from L. privatus (see private). Meaning "participating in a secret" (usually with to) is attested from 1390. The noun meaning "toilet" is c.1225, from O.Fr. privé, from the adj. Privy Council is from c.1300 in a general sense; specifically of the British government, first attested 1375, as consaile priue.

prix fixe --- meal served at a fixed price, 1883, from Fr., lit. "fixed price."

prize (n.1) --- reward, 1590s, alteration of M.E. prise (c.1300 in this sense; see price). Prize-fighter is from 1703; prize-fight from 1824. Prized "highly esteemed" is from 1538.

prize (n.2) --- something taken by force, c.1386, from O.Fr. prise "a taking, seizing, holding," prop. fem. pp. of prendre "to take, seize," from L. prendere, contraction of prehendere (see prehensile). Especially of ships captured at sea (1512).

prize (v.) --- to estimate, 1586, alteration of M.E. prisen "to prize, value," from stem of O.Fr. preisier (see praise).

pro --- 1866, shortening of professional. The adj. is first recorded 1932. Pro-am "including professionals and amateurs" is from 1949.

pro- --- prefix meaning "before, forward, in favor of, in place of," from L. pro "on behalf of, in place of, before, for," also in some cases from cognate Gk. pro "before, in front of," both from PIE *pro-, extended form of base *por- "forward, through" (cf. Skt. para "beyond," pra- "before, forward, forth;" Gk. paros "before," para- "from beside, against, beyond;" Goth. faura "before," O.E. fore "before, for, on account of," fram "forward, from"). Pro and con is attested from c.1400, short for pro and contra "for and against" (L. pro et contra).

pro bono --- short for M.L. pro bono publico "for the public good" (1726).

pro rata --- 1575, from L. pro rata (parte) "according to the calculated (share)," from pro "for" + rata, abl. sing. of ratus, pp. of reri "to count, reckon" (see rate).

pro tempore --- 1468, from L., lit. "for the time (being)." Abbreviated form pro tem is attested by 1835.

pro-active --- 1971, of persons or policies, coined from pro- + active on model of react/reactive. Used from 1933 in a psychological sense.

probable --- 1387, from O.Fr. probable (14c.), from L. probabilis "provable," from probare "to try, to test" (see prove). Probable cause as a legal term is attested from 1676. Probably is attested from 1535; probability from 1551.

probate (n.) --- official proving of a will, 1463, from L. probatum "a thing proved," neut. of probatus, pp. of probare "to try, test, prove" (see prove). The verb is recorded from 1792.

probation --- c.1412, "trial, experiment, test," from O.Fr. probacion (14c.), from L. probationem (nom. probatio) "inspection, examination," noun of action from probare "to test" (see prove). Meaning "testing of a person's conduct" is from 1432; theological sense first recorded 1526; criminal justice sense is first recorded in U.S. c.1878.

probe (n.) --- 1580, "instrument for exploring wounds, etc.," from M.L. proba "examination," in L.L. "test, proof," from L. probare (see prove). Meaning "act of probing" is 1890, from the verb; fig. sense of "penetrating investigation" is from 1903. Meaning "small, unmanned exploratory craft" is attested from 1953. The verb is first recorded 1649 (originally figurative; "to search thoroughly, interrogate"), from the noun.

probity --- 1514, from M.Fr. probité, from L. probitatem (nom. probitas) "uprightness, honesty," from probus "worthy, good" (see prove).

problem --- 1382, "a difficult question proposed for solution," from O.Fr. problème (14c.), from L. problema, from Gk. problema "a problem, a question," lit. "thing put forward," from proballein "propose," from pro "forward" + ballein "to throw" (see ballistics). Problem child first recorded 1920.

problematic --- 1609, shortening of problematical (1570), from L.L. problematicus, from Gk. problematikos "pertaining to a problem," from problematos, gen. of problema (see problem).

proboscis --- 1609, "elephant's trunk," from L. proboscis (Pliny), from Gk. proboskis "elephant's trunk," lit. "means for taking food," from pro "forward" + boskein "to nourish, feed," from boskesthai "graze, be fed," from stem *bot- (cf. botane "grass, fodder;" see botany).

procedure --- 1611, "fact or manner of proceeding," from Fr. procédure "manner of proceeding" (1197), from O.Fr. proceder (see proceed). Meaning "method of conducting business in Parliament" is from 1839. First appearance of procedural is 1889.

proceed --- 1382, from O.Fr. proceder (13c.), from L. procedere "go forward, advance," from pro- "forward" + cedere "to go" (see cede) Proceeds (n.) "results, profits" is first attested 1665, on the notion of "that which proceeds from something." Proceedings "records of the doings of a society" is from 1830.

process (n.) --- c.1330, "fact of being carried on" (e.g. in process), from O.Fr. proces "journey" (13c.), from L. processus "process, advance, progress," from pp. stem of procedere "go forward" (see proceed). Meaning "course or method of action" is from 1340; sense of "continuous series of actions meant to accomplish some result" (the main modern sense) is from 1627. Legal sense of "course of action of a suit at law" is attested from c.1325. Verb meaning "prepare by special process" first recorded 1884; processor is 1909; data processor is 1958; word processor is c.1974; food processor is 1977.

procession --- 1103, from O.Fr. procession (11c.), from L.L. processionem (nom. processio) "religious procession," in classical L. "a marching onward," from stem of processum, pp. of procedere (see proceed). Processional "book of hymns for use in processions," is first attested 1440. Verb process (accent on second syllable) "to march in procession" is an 1814 back-formation.

pro-choice --- favoring a right to abortion, 1975, from pro- + choice.

proclaim --- c.1400, from L. proclamare "cry or call out," from pro- "forth" + clamare "to cry out" (see claim). Proclamation "that which is proclaimed" is recorded from 1415.

proclivity --- 1591, from L. proclivitatem (nom. proclivitas) "a tendency, propensity," from proclivis "prone to," lit. "sloping," from pro- "forward" + clivus "a slope," from PIE *klei-wo-, suffixed form of *klei "to lean" (see lean (v.)).

proconsul --- 1382, "governor or military commander of an ancient Roman province," from L. proconsul, from phrase pro consule "(acting) in place of a consul," from pro- + abl. of consul. In modern use, usually rhetorical, but it was a title of certain commissioners in the Fr. Revolution and also was used in Eng. for "deputy consul."

procrastination --- 1548, from L. procrastinationem "a putting off," noun of action from procrastinare "put off till tomorrow," from pro- "forward" + crastinus "belonging to tomorrow," from cras "tomorrow," of unknown origin. Procrastinate is recorded from 1588.

procreation --- c.1386, from O.Fr. procreacion (14c.), from L. procreationem (nom. procreatio) "generation," noun of action from procreare "bring forth" (offspring), from pro- "forth" + creare "create."

Procrustean --- 1846 in figurative sense of "aiming to produce conformity by arbitrary means," from Procrustes (1583), mythical robber of Attica who seized travelers, tied them to his bed, and either stretched their limbs or lopped of their legs to make them fit it. The name is Gk. Prokroustes "one who stretches," from prokrouein "to beat out, stretch out," from pro- "before" + krouein "to strike."

proctology --- 1899, from Gk. proktos "anus" + -logy "study of."

proctor --- c.1380, contraction of procurator (c.1290), "official agent of a church or holy order," from O.Fr. procuratour (13c.), from L. procuratorem "manager, agent, deputy," from procurare (see procure).

procure --- c.1290, "bring about, cause, effect," from O.Fr. procurer (13c.), from L.L. procurare "to take for, take care of," in L., "manage, take care of," from pro- "in behalf of" + curare "care for." Main modern sense is via "taking pains to get" (1297). Meaning "to obtain (women) for sexual gratification" is attested from 1603.

Procyon --- bright winter star in constellation Canis Minoris, 1658, from L. from Gk. prokyon, from pro "before" + kyon "dog" (see canine); so called from its rising just before the "Dog Star," Sirius.

prod (v.) --- 1535, "to poke with a stick," possibly a variant of brod, from M.E. brodden "to goad," from O.N. broddr "shaft, spike" (see brad), or perhaps onomatopoeic. Fig. sense is recorded from 1871. The noun is recorded from 1802.

prodigal --- c.1450, back-formation from prodigiality (1340), from O.Fr. prodigalite (13c.), from L.L. prodigalitatem (nom. prodigalitas) "wastefulness," from L. prodigus "wasteful," from prodigere "drive away, waste," from pro- "forth" + agere "to drive" (see act). First ref. is to prodigial son, from Vulgate L. filius prodigus (Luke xv.11-32).

prodigious --- 1552, "having the appearance of a prodigy," from L. prodigiosus "strange, wonderful, marvelous," from prodigium (see prodigy). Meaning "vast, enormous" is from 1601.

prodigy --- 1494, "sign, portent, something extraordinary from which omens are drawn," from L. prodigium "sign, omen, portent, prodigy," from pro- "forth" + -igium, a suffix or word of unknown origin, perhaps from *agi-, root of aio "I say" (see adage). Meaning "child with exceptional abilities" first recorded 1658.

produce (v.) --- 1499, from L. producere "lead or bring forth, draw out," from pro- "forth" + ducere "to bring, lead" (see duke). Originally "extend," sense of "bring into being" is first recorded 1513; that of "to put (a play) on stage" is from 1585. The noun, "thing or things produced," is 1695, from the verb, and was originally accented like it. Specific sense of "agricultural productions" (as distinguished from manufactured goods) is from 1745. Producer is from 1513 in sense of "one who produces;" specifically of dramatic performances, etc., from 1891. In political economy sense, opposed to consumer from 1784 (first in Adam Smith).

product --- c.1430, "mathematical quantity obtained by multiplication," from M.L. productum, from L. "something produced," noun use of neuter pp. of producere "bring forth" (see produce). General sense of "anything produced" is attested in Eng. from 1575.

production --- c.1430, "that which is produced," from O.Fr. production (13c.), from M.L. productionem (nom. productio), from L. productus, pp. of producere "bring forth" (see produce). Colloquial sense of "fuss, commotion" is from 1941, on notion of "theatrical performance" (1894).

productive --- 1612, from Fr. productif (16c.), from M.L. productivus "fit for production," from L. productus, pp. of producere (see produce). Productivity is from 1809 with meaning "quality of being productive;" economic sense of "rate of output per unit" is from 1899.

proem --- c.1386, proheme "brief introduction, prelude," from O.Fr. proheme (14c.), from L. prooemium, from Gk. prooimion "prelude," from pro- "before" + oimos "way" or oime "song."

profane (v.) --- 1382, from L. profanare "to desecrate," from profanus "unholy, not consecrated," from pro fano "not admitted into the temple (with the initiates)," lit. "out in front of the temple," from pro- "before" + fano, abl. of fanum "temple." The adj. is attested from 1483; originally "un-ecclesiastical, secular;" sense of "unholy, polluted" is recorded from c.1500. Profanity is 1607, from L.L. profanitas, from L. profanus. Extended sense of "foul language" is from Old Testament commandment against "profaning" the name of the Lord.