primary

[f]irst or highest in rank, quality, or importance; principal." American Heritage Dictionary 1393 (4th ed. 2000); see also Webster's Third New International Dictionary 1800 (2002) (defining "primary" as "first in rank or importance"); 12 Oxford English Dictionary 472 (2d ed. 1989) (defining "primary" as "[o]f the first or highest rank or importance; that claims the first consideration; principal, chief").

That which is first or principal; as, primary evidence, that evidence which is to be admitted in the first instance, as distinguished from secondary evidencej which is allowed only when primary evidence cannot be had.

That which is first or principal: as, primary evidence, that evidence which is to be admitted in the first instance, as distinguished from secondary evidence, which is allowed only when primary evidence cannot be had.

First; principal; chief; leading.

— Primary allegation. The opening pleading in a suit in the ecclesiastical court It is also calied a "primary plea."

— Primary disposal of the soil. In acts of congress admitting territories as states, and providing that no laws shall be passed interfering with the primary disposal of the soil, this means the disposal of it by the United States government when it parts with its title to private persons or corporations acquiring the right in a patent or deed in accordance with law. See Oury v. Goodwin, 3 Ariz. 255, 26 Pac. 377; Topeka Commercial Security Co. v. McPherson, 7 Oki. 332, 54 Pac. 489.

— Primary powers. The principal authority given by a principal to his agent It differs from "mediate powers." Story, Ag. § 58. As to primary "Conveyance," "Election," "Evidence," and "Obligation," see those titles.

First: principal, chief, leading, the best: as, a primary conveyance {q. v.), primary evidence (g. v.), dbligation, power. See Primus. Primarily. " Designed primarily " for advertising purposes was held to mean " chiefly or principally intended " for such purposes."

First; chief; leading. Primary allegation. The opening pleading in a suit in the ecclesiastical com't; it is also called a " primary plea." See Coote Ecd. Prac. Primary conveyances, as opposed to derivative conveyances, are conveyances which take effect by an independent vigor and operation, and not by way of enlarging, confirming, altering, or otherwise affecting other conveyances. (2 Bl. Com. 309; 1 Sleph. Com. 517, 518.) The term is usually considered to include feoffments, grants, gifts, leases, exchanges, partitions. Primary evidence. That evidence which the nature of the case or question suggests as the proper means of ascertaining the truth. The phrase, best and secondary evidence, often used, is less accurate in its suggestion than primary and secondary. For the evidence which the party is required to produce, or account for, is not always better than other kinds; that is, more convincing. The true rule is, that the party shall adduce the natural evidence, — the evidence which the nature of the case suggests as the legitimate and proper means of proof, — or shall account for its absence, before he that the less direct or secondary evidence is always inferior or feebler, or that the court is satisfied to accept inferior evidence because the better cannot be had, but that any suppression or withholding of the natural legitimate proofs throws suspicion upon the party's case, — warrants the inference that, if it were produced, it would tell against him. "Primary" is considered to express this idea more clearly than " best."