prīmōris, e (nom. sing. not in use), adj. [primus], the first, first (class. in plur.).
I In gen. (rare): imbres, Varr. R. R. 2, 2: dentes, the front teeth , Plin. 7, 16, 15, § 70: in primore pueritiā, in earliest childhood , Gell. 10, 19, 3: anni, first , earliest , Sil. 1, 511: primori Marte, in the first part or beginning of the war , id. 11, 143: primore aspectu, at first sight , Gell. 2, 7, 6.—
II In partic.
A The foremost part , forepart , tip , end , extremity (class.; syn. primus): sumere aliquid digitulis primoribus, with the tips of one's fingers , Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 24: versabatur mihi (nomen) in labris primoribus, is at my tongue's end , id. Trin. 4, 2, 65: aliquid primoribus labris attingere, to touch slightly , Cic. de Or. 1, 19, 87; cf. id. Cael. 12, 28; id. Fragm. ap. Non. 428, 3: surculum primorem praeacuito obliquum primores digitos duos, Cato R. R. 40, 3; Lucil. ap. Non. 427, 27: eduxique animam in primoribu' naribus, id. ib. 427, 32: nasi primoris acumen, Lucr. 6, 1193: (pilo) primori inest pyxis ferrea, Plin. 18, 11, 29, § 112; 10, 33, 51, § 99: cauda late fusa primori parte, id. 8, 54, 80, § 216: vestibulum esse partem domus primorem, Gell. 16, 5, 2: in primore libro, at the beginning of the book , Gell. 1, 18, 3: usque in primores manus ac prope in digitos, as far as the forepart of the hands , id. 7, 12: primori in acie versari, Tac. H. 3, 21.—
B The first in rank or dignity, chief , principal (poet. and postclass.—In Liv. 24, 20, 13, Weissenb. reads: inpigre conscriptā; v. also Madvig. ad Cic. Fin. 3, 16, 52): Argivorum viri, Cat. 68, 87: feminae, Tac. A. 2, 29: venti, chief , cardinal , Gell. 2, 22.—Hence, subst.: prīmō-res , um, m.
α The front rank in battle, etc.: dum inter primores promptius dimicat, sagittā ictus est, Curt. 4, 6, 17.—
β The men of the first rank , the chiefs , nobles , patricians (cf. princeps): Amphitruo delegit viros primorum principes, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 49: odio alienae honestatis ereptus primoribus ager, Liv. 1, 47, 11: primores populi arripuit, Hor. S. 2, 1, 69: civitatum primores atque optimates, Col. 12, 3, 10: primores, ac duces, Juv. 15, 40: ex primoribus, Tac. A. 13, 30; 4, 33; Vulg. 2 Macc. 8, 9.