ap-prīmus (better adp-), a, um, adj. (ad
I intens. ), the very first; only once in Liv. Andron.: Ibidemque vir summus adprimus Patroclus, Gell. 6, 7, 11.
II —Hence, ap-prīmē ( adp- ), adv., first of all , before all , especially , exceedingly , very (most freq. in ante- and post-class. per.; in the class. per. only in Nep. Att. 13, 4; for in Cic. Fin. 3, 9, 32, the reading should be a primo; v. Madv. ad h. l.; syn.: in primis, praecipue, ante omnia); with adjj. and verbs.
A With adjj. : adprime nobilis, Plaut. Cist. 1, 2, 6; so Ter. Eun. 952: adprime probus, Plaut. Rud. 3, 4, 30: adprime probo (genere), id. Trin. 2, 2, 92: utile, Ter. And. 61: obsequens, id. Hec. 247 (vehementissime, Don.): adprime doctus, Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 17: adprime boni, * Nep. Att. 13, 3.—Once with the sup. : adprime summo genere gnatus, Quadrig. ap. Gell. 7, 11, 7.—
B With verbs (post-class.): adprime potuit obtingere Socrati, Ap. Deo Socr. fin. ; so id. Flor. 3 (in Verg. G. 2, 134, the reading of Servius and Arus. Mess. p. 214 Lind. is: flos apprima tenax; apprima being here used as adv., like acerba, acuta al.; for which, however, the best MSS. and editt. have ad prima; v. Wagn. and Rib. ad h. l.).