primly

[ prim-lee ]

/ ˈprɪm li /

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adverb

in a proper, neat, precise, or fastidious way: Today I stand in my navy blue uniform, my feet primly encased in black boots laced neatly over wool socks.As we left the restaurant I noticed that most of the other diners were eating their shrimp with knives and forks, primly dissecting each one.

(especially of a woman or girl) in a way that is excessively demure or modest: Justin and I sat, and she sat across from us, primly holding her knees together and folding her hands on top of them.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of primly

prim¹ + -ly

Words nearby primly

primitive node, primitive polynomial, primitive streak, primitivism, Primitivo, primly, primo, Primo de Rivera, Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, primogenitor, primogeniture

How to use primly in a sentence

George Will put it more primly, but with the same sense of trepidation.
Warren Takes Credit for Occupy Wall Street|Samuel P. Jacobs|October 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Engel would come walking along primly, right into its light.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
The arrangement of the room coquettes primly with that simplicity which was paraded at the time.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 1 (of 4)|Richard Muther
"It has nothing to do with the secret proceedings of your 'frat'," said Dora, primly.
Ramsey Milholland|Booth Tarkington

"You will please pardon me, but I do not care to receive you," she said primly.
Hidden Gold|Wilder Anthony
He commanded young Harvey to lift the child into the coach, chestnuts and all, and there she sat primly between us.
Richard Carvel, Complete|Winston Churchill