primum mobile

American  

[pree-moom moh-bi-le, prahy-muhm mob-uh-lee, pree-] / ˈpri mʊm ˈmoʊ bɪˌlɛ, ˈpraɪ məm ˈmɒb əˌli, ˈpri- /

noun

Latin.

1. (in Ptolemaic astronomy) the outermost of the 10 concentric spheres of the universe, making a complete revolution every 24 hours and causing all the others to do likewise.

2. prime mover.

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primum mobile British  

/ ˈpraɪmʊm ˈməʊbɪlɪ /

noun

1. a prime mover

2. astronomy the outermost empty sphere in the Ptolemaic system that was thought to revolve around the earth from east to west in 24 hours carrying with it the inner spheres of the planets, sun, moon, and fixed stars

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Etymology

Origin of primum mobile

Literally, “first moving (thing)”

Example Sentences

“Hellgate” is now the orifice in the primum mobile towards the empyrean.

From Project Gutenberg

Moral virtue is with me a primum mobile in all things.

From Project Gutenberg

The thought of the two outer spheres, the primum mobile, whirling along with it all the inner spheres, and the firmament, bearing hosts of bright stars, seems to have appealed strongly to the poet’s imagination.

From Project Gutenberg

I need not say that your correspondent is quite right in referring the words first moved to the primum mobile.

From Project Gutenberg

The grand difficulty is to find a primum mobile, or first mover, when the very act of seeking implies a primum mobile, which the conditions of the act deny.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• instigator
• motivator
• mover