PRI'MARY, adjective [Latin primarius. See Prime.]

1. First in order of time; original; as the church of Christ in its primary institution.

These I call original or primary qualities of body.

2. First in dignity or importance; chief; principal. Our ancestors considered the education of youth or primary importance.

3. Elemental; intended to teach youth the first rudiments; as primary schools.

4. Radical; original; as the primary sense of a word.

Primary planets, are those which revolve about the sun, in distinction form the secondary planets, which revolve about the primary

Primary qualities of bodies, are such as are original and inseparable from them.