primer

Meaning

Noun

1. (historical) A prayer or devotional book intended for laity, initially an abridgment of the breviary and manual including the hours of the Virgin Mary, 15 gradual and 7 penitential psalms, the litany, the placebo and dirige forming the office of the dead, and the commendations.
2. (historical) Any of various similar works issued in England for private prayer in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer.
3. A children's book intended to teach literacy: how to read, write, and spell.
4. An introductory text on any subject, particularly basic concepts.
5. (New-Zealand, obsolete) An elementary school class; an elementary school student.

Adj

1. (not-comparable, obsolete) First in time, initial, early.
2. (not-comparable, obsolete) First in importance, premier.
3. (not-comparable, obsolete, rare) First in position, foremost.

Synonyms

priming

undercoat

fuse

ABC

🔤

priming coat

ABC book

flat coat

fusee

fuze

detonator

fuzee

abecedarium

cap

introduction

manual

abecedary

ABC-book

reader

priming element

spelling book

spelling-book

primer coat

elementary

ground

syllabary

taper

tentative

textbook

📖

tinder

touchwood

ABC’s

alphabet book

blasting cap

first coat

first step

ignitor

school book

entering an institute

introduction to

introductory book

augette

blaster cap

ground coat paint

paint base

prime paint

base coat

adhesive bitumen primer

ground coating

percussive cap

first fire

Translations

amorce

abécédaire

abbecedario

Fibel

Abc-Buch

cartilha

abecedario

abc

🔤

innesco

silabario

abecé

αλφαβητάριο

cebador

αλφαβητάρι

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɹaɪ.mə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: primer

In summary

From Middle English primer, primere, from Medieval Latin primarius and primarium (“prayer book”) possibly via Anglo-Norman primer (“prayer book”), from prima (“prime the liturgical hour and office”) + -arius and -arium (suffix forming related objects). Its use for schoolbooks derived from the late medieval and early modern use of such prayer books to teach reading.