prim
prim Lexical Profile
prim Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Stiffly formal, neat, and socially proper, often to the point of being easily offended by anything coarse or improper.
"The librarian maintained a prim demeanor, frowning slightly whenever patrons spoke above a whisper."
• verb
To draw or purse (the mouth or face) into a stiffly neat, formal, or affectedly demure expression.
"She primmed her lips in quiet disapproval when she heard the off-color joke."
To dress or groom oneself in a fastidiously neat or affectedly proper manner.
"He spent twenty minutes primming in front of the hallway mirror before the guests arrived."
• Rhymes for prim
Word Origin & Etymology
Originating in the late 17th century as cant or slang for an attractive young woman, the word is likely borrowed from Old French 'prin' (meaning fine, delicate, or sharp), which derives from Latin 'primus' (first or finest).