primly

[prim-lee]

adverb

1. 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.

2. (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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of primly¹

prim ¹ ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

But as Wicks fell to the floor, Jud was onstage clutching a 6-foot cross and each of the other potential suspects was seated primly in their seats.

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The lady smiled primly and scratched under the edge of her bonnet.

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This was no primly patterned minuet, where dancers stood side by side, attention directed to precisely mapping elaborate steps.

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The treatment of Indian schoolchildren “is a constant source of trouble,” The Times said primly.

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Remember the kid who sat next to you in math class and primly guarded his test paper from cheating eyes with a bent elbow?

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