Meaning & use
prima
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a nounrareformal
First, leading or principal; found in English chiefly inside borrowed Italian and Latin phrases.
Grammar: Rarely used alone; it appears in fixed phrases such as prima donna and prima facie.
Patterns
- prima donna
- prima facie
- prima ballerina
The prima ballerina received a standing ovation after the final act.
Critics said the star behaved like a prima donna during rehearsals.
The lawyer argued that there was prima facie evidence of fraud.
Common combinations
- prima donna
- The prima donna refused to sing until her dressing room was changed.
- prima facie
- The documents were prima facie proof of ownership.
- prima ballerina
- She trained for years to become a prima ballerina.
- prima vista
- The pianist played the piece prima vista without any rehearsal.
- prima materia
- Alchemists searched for the prima materia from which everything came.
Synonyms and how they differ
- principal
- Principal is an ordinary English adjective meaning main, whereas prima is a borrowed form seen only in set phrases.
- leading
- Leading is the everyday word for the top position, while prima has an opera or ballet flavor.
- chief
- Chief describes the person with the highest rank, while prima adds a foreign, theatrical tone.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: prima or primer?
prima vs primer
A primer is a first coat of paint or an introductory book, and it is not a form of prima. The two share the idea of first but differ in use.
Practice
Which phrase describes a singer who behaves in a temperamental, demanding way?
Choose one answer.
A prima donna is a leading female opera singer, and the phrase is used for anyone who is demanding. Prima facie means on first appearance, prima vista means at first sight, and prima materia is an alchemical term.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “prima”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.