prīmĭtĭae (prīmĭcĭae), ārum, f. [primus], the first things of their kind, firstlings.
I Lit., first-fruits : primitias Cereri farra resecta dabant, Ov. F. 2, 520; id. M. 8, 274; Plin. 18, 2, 2, § 8: pomiferi Laribus consuevimus horti Mittere primitias, Calp. Ecl. 2, 64; Vulg. Exod. 22, 29.—
B Transf., of other things: primitiae metallorum, the first produce of the mine , Tac. H. 4, 53: vitis, the first shoots , Col. 4, 10, 2: plantae, id. 10, 147.—
II Trop.: primitiae juvenis miserae, his first unhappy essays , Verg. A. 11, 156: tori, the first nuptial joys , Sil. 3, 111: armorum, the first-fruits of war , Stat. Th. 11, 285: lacrimarum, id. ib. 6, 146: primitiae et quasi libamenta ingenuarum artium, Gell. praef.: spectaculi, Ap. Met. 10, 29, 16; commeatus, the beginning of navigation , id. ib. 11, 5, 27 Oud.; dormientium, the first to rise from the dead , Vulg. 1 Cor. 15, 20; 15, 23.