primly
3
6.6
- adverb
- /ˈprɪmli/
:
con formalidad
- "The children stood primly in line, their uniforms neat and tidy, waiting for the teacher's instructions."
- sat primly
- said primly
- primly dressed
Examples
-
"Madam?" Gonmer started primly, but Zorah interrupted her with a wave of her hand.
Fiction book (1991) -
"Where does that fit into your life?" Rather primly, she retorted, "That's something ladies have no interest in."
Fiction book (1990) -
"I'll come straight to the point," she said primly, producing a check.
Fiction book (1991) -
"Well," she said primly, still smiling at the man she loved.
Fiction book (1996) -
And of course, there he was: Edward, peering primly down at her from one of the windows.
Fiction book (1998) -
"Very well, Nuala..." the young woman said a bit primly, eager to go through her routine.
Fiction book (1995) -
His photo is opposite my mother's, with her wavy brown hair primly in place.
Fiction book (1997) -
"Your father," she said primly, "was implying that a man like Bob couldn't exist."
Fiction book (1991) -
Sara and the other girls sat on a bench, knees primly touching, excited.
Fiction book (1993) -
Naturally, I aroused suspicion in the primly well-dressed women who clerked in such stores.
Fiction book (1998)
Synonyms
In a very proper and fussy way
In a way that shows someone thinks they are morally better than others
In a way that shows too much modesty about sex
In a very strict way about moral or sexual matters
How Proper
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word primly comes from prim, which means 'very proper' or neat. A helpful way to remember it is to think of prime 'first': someone who wants to be 'first' keeps everything in perfect order, so to act primly is to behave in a very formal, tidy, and slightly stiff way.