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The Meaning of primary

  • (a.) First in order of time or development or in intention; primitive; fundamental; original.
  • (a.) First in order, as being preparatory to something higher; as, primary assemblies; primary schools.
  • (a.) First in dignity or importance; chief; principal; as, primary planets; a matter of primary importance.
  • (a.) Earliest formed; fundamental.
  • (a.) Illustrating, possessing, or characterized by, some quality or property in the first degree; having undergone the first stage of substitution or replacement.
  • (n.) That which stands first in order, rank, or importance; a chief matter.
  • (n.) A primary meeting; a caucus.
  • (n.) One of the large feathers on the distal joint of a bird's wing. See Plumage, and Illust. of Bird.
  • (n.) A primary planet; the brighter component of a double star. See under Planet.

Synonyms

primary coil , primary feather , primary quill , primary election , primary winding , main(a) , chief(a) , basal , master(a) , principal(a) , elemental , elementary , primary(a) , simple , unproblematic , uncomplicated , base , radical , primeval , aboriginal , indigenous , patriarchal , primitive , ancient , native , primal , primordial , autochthonic , old , pristine , immemorial , original , prime , uncreated , capital , direct , firsthand , first-string , particular , special , essential , first

Antonyms

exotic , fresh , modern , novel , indirect , adventitious , foreign , late , new , recent , incident , inessential , auxiliary , collateral , incidental , second-string , utility(a) , secondary , substitute , unessential , alternate , tributary , thirdhand , unimportant , derived , supplementary , substitute(a) , vicarious , supplemental , standby , secondhand , alternative , subsidiary

Rhymes

adversary , aerie , airey , airy , alarie , ameri , ancillary , apothecary , arbitrary , arie , ary , asbury , auberry , aviary , azeri , balistreri , banbury , barberi , barey , barillari , barre , barrie , barry , beneficiary , berrey , berri , berrie , berry , bicentenary , blackberry , blueberry , bollettieri , boveri , bradberry , bradbury , buccheri , budgetary , bury , cadbury , camilleri , canary , canterbury , canzoneri , capillary , carey , carie , carrey , carrie , carry , cary , cassowary , cautionary , cemetery , centenary , cheri , cherie , cherry , chery , clary , cometary , commentary , commissary , concessionary , confectionary , confectionery , constabulary , contemporary , contrary , corollary , coronary , counterrevolutionary , cranberry , culinary , curreri , customary , dairy , deflationary , depositary , derry , dery , dewberry , dictionary , dietary , dignitary , disciplinary , discretionary , disinflationary , dispensary , diversionary , dogberry , dromedary , dubarry , dysentery , emissary , epistolary , estuary , evolutionary , exclusionary , expeditionary , extraordinary , eyrie , fairey , fairy , feb , february , ferreri , ferri , ferrie , ferry , fery , fiduciary , formulary , fragmentary , francesmary , frary , functionary , funerary , gadberry , garry , gary , gerri , gerrie , gerry , gery , glary , glengarry , gooseberry , granberry , guarneri , hackberry , hairy , hanberry , hanbury , harry , hereditary , herry , honorary , huckleberry , illusionary , imaginary , inflationary , interdisciplinary , interplanetary , involuntary , itinerary , january , jere , jeri , jerri , jerrie , jerry , judiciary , kairey , kari , karry , kary , kerrey , kerri , kerry , kilbury , lapidary , laprairie , larry , lary , legendary , library , literary , londonderry , luminary , marry , mary , maseri , mauceri , maugeri , mcclary , mccrary , mcgarry , mcnary , mcquerry , mcsherry , mercenary , merrie , merry , metairie , middlebury , military , missionary , moceri , momentary , monastery , monetary , mooberry , mortuary , mulberry , nary , necessary , neri , newberry , newbery , newbury , noninflationary , nonmilitary , obituary , omary , ordinary , oteri , palmieri , palminteri , paramilitary , parry , pecuniary , perry , pituitary , planetary , plumeri , prairie , preliminary , probationary , proprietary , prosperi , pulmonary , pusateri , quaternary , querry , raineri , raneri , ranieri , raspberry , reactionary , recarey , recessionary , remarry , revolutionary , rosemary , salutary , sanctuary , sanitary , savagery , scary , secondary , secretary , sedentary , semilegendary , seminary , serry , sherrie , sherry , shrewsbury , silveri , simsbury , skerry , soleri , solitary , sperry , spiteri , stanberry , stanbury , stary , stationary , stationery , statuary , sterry , strawberry , subsidiary , sudberry , sudbury , sunseri , tagliaferri , tarry , temporary , teri , terri , terry , tertiary , tiberi , tilbury , tipperary , topiary , tributary , undersecretary , unitary , unnecessary , unsanitary , unwary , urinary , vary , verri , verry , very , veterinary , visionary , vocabulary , wary , waterbury , werry , wery , wherry , woodbury , yeiri