primacy

From Old French primacie, from Medieval Latin primatia (“office of a church primate”), from Latin primas plus a suffix corresponding to -acy.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹaɪ.mə.si/, /ˈpɹɪ.mə.si/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹaɪ.mə.si/

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primacy (usually uncountable, plural primacies)

1. The state or condition of being prime or first, as in time, place, rank, etc.
   • December 25 2016, Amruta Patil, “The book in my hand”, in The Hindu‎:

     I am reading Nick Sousanis’ PhD dissertation-as-a-comic Unflattening. It debunks the primacy of word over image in Western culture and suggests that the two are equal partners in meaning-making.

2. (archaic) Excellence; supremacy.
3. (religion) The office, rank, or character of a primate, it being the chief ecclesiastical station or dignity in a national church.
   • December 2 2016, Ecumenical Patriarch points to areas of agreement with Pope, Catholic World News‎:

     Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who holds a primacy of honor in Eastern Orthodoxy, emphasized the many areas of agreement between Pope Francis and himself in response to the social concerns of the day.

4. (religion) The office or dignity of an archbishop.

• primacy effect