Primates

[prahy-mey-teez] /praɪˈmeɪ tiz/
noun
1.
the order comprising the primates.
Origin
1765-75; < Neo-Latin, plural of Latin prīmās one of the first, chief, principal. See primate

primate

[prahy-meyt or especially for 1, prahy-mit] /ˈpraɪ meɪt or especially for 1, ˈpraɪ mɪt/
noun
1.
Ecclesiastical. an archbishop or bishop ranking first among the bishops of a province or country.
2.
any of various omnivorous mammals of the order Primates, comprising the three suborders Anthropoidea (humans, great apes, gibbons, Old World monkeys, and New World monkeys), Prosimii (lemurs, loris, and their allies), and Tarsioidea (tarsiers), especially distinguished by the use of hands, varied locomotion, and by complex flexible behavior involving a high level of social interaction and cultural adaptability.
3.
Archaic. a chief or leader.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English primat dignitary, religious leader < Late Latin prīmāt- (stem of prīmās), noun use of Latin prīmās of first rank, derivative of prīmus first (see prime); (def 2) taken as singular of Neo-Latin Primates Primates, as if ending in -ate1
Related forms
primatal, adjective, noun
primatial
[prahy-mey-shuh l] /praɪˈmeɪ ʃəl/ (Show IPA), primatical
[prahy-mat-i-kuh l] /praɪˈmæt ɪ kəl/ (Show IPA), adjective
Examples from the web for Primates
  • It is a major brain component in many vertebrates, but much reduced in Primates.
  • The human species is also a placental mammal, a member of the order Primates.
  • These differences are in agreement with results obtained in Primates in similar studies.
  • In addition, there is not one direct but two output subsystems in Primates.
  • Numerous examples exist, including those of Primates and early humans.
  • There are instances in which nonhuman Primates have been reported to have expressed joy.
  • Communication in many of its facets is not limited to humans, or even to Primates.
  • Layers the human cornea, like that of other Primates, has five layers.
British Dictionary definitions for Primates

primate1

/ˈpraɪmeɪt/
noun
1.
any placental mammal of the order Primates, typically having flexible hands and feet with opposable first digits, good eyesight, and, in the higher apes, a highly developed brain: includes lemurs, lorises, monkeys, apes, and man
adjective
2.
of, relating to, or belonging to the order Primates
Derived Forms
primatial (praɪˈmeɪʃəl) adjective
Word Origin
C18: from New Latin primates, plural of prīmās principal, from prīmus first

primate2

/ˈpraɪmeɪt/
noun
1.
another name for archbishop
2.
Primate of all England, the Archbishop of Canterbury
3.
Primate of England, the Archbishop of York
Word Origin
C13: from Old French, from Latin prīmās principal, from prīmus first
Word Origin and History for Primates

primate

n.

"high bishop," c.1200, from Old French primat and directly from Medieval Latin primatem (nominative primas) "church primate," noun use of Late Latin adjective primas "of the first rank, chief, principal," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)).

Meaning "animal of the biological order including monkeys and humans" is attested from 1876, from Modern Latin Primates (Linnæus), from plural of Latin primas; so called from supposedly being the "highest" order of mammals (originally also including bats).

Primates in Medicine

primate pri·mate (prī'māt')
n.
A mammal of the order Primates, which includes the anthropoids and prosimians, characterized by refined development of the hands and feet, a shortened snout, and a large brain.

pri·ma'tial (-mā'shəl) adj.
Primates in Science
primate
  (prī'māt')   
Any of various mammals of the order Primates, having a highly developed brain, eyes facing forward, a shortened nose and muzzle, and opposable thumbs. Primates usually live in groups with complex social systems, and their high intelligence allows them to adapt their behavior successfully to different environments. Lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans are primates.
Primates in Culture
primates [(preye-mayts)]

The order of mammals that includes monkeys, apes, and human beings. Primates are distinguished from other animals in that they generally possess limbs capable of performing a variety of functions, hands and feet adapted for grasping (including opposable thumbs), flattened snouts, and other anatomical features. (See Linnean classification.)