Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PRIMUS, n. Also in anglicised form †prime. In the Scottish Episcopal Church: the bishop chosen by his colleagues to be the president of their episcopal meetings, but having no metropolitan or special authority conferred by this title and office. Hence primus-ship, the position of the Primus or presiding bishop. [′praeməs]Sc. 1720 Lockhart Papers (1817) II. 36:
Bishop Fullerton, who was appointed Prime of the College of Bishops as well as Bishop of Edinburgh.Sc. 1724 J. Skinner Eccles. Hist. (1788) II. 633:
The Primus and the other Bishops have permitted the use of the Scotch Liturgy to such of the clergy as shall think fit to use it.Sc. 1786 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 77:
The eldest prelate, whoever he is, presides among his brethren, and is styled Primus Episcopus, or, more shortly, Primus.Sc. 1818 J. Skinner Annals Sc. Episc. 534:
Anciently, no Bishop in Scotland had the title of Archbishop, but one of them had a precedency, under the title Primus Scotiae Episcopus. In consequence of the Revolution, after the death of Bishop Rose of Edinburgh [1720], the Scottish Bishops reassumed the old form, one of them being elected Primus, with power of convocating and presiding, according to their canons made in 1743.Sc. 1899 J. Wordsworth Episcopate C. Wordsworth 178, 156:
I wrote to the Primus, Bishop Gleig . . . The beginning of the reign of King George III. and of the Primus-ship of Bishop William Falconar.Sc. 1960 J. Highet Sc. Churches 30:
The Bishops elect one of their number as Primus. The Primus (who is neither Primate nor Archbishop of the Scottish Church) presides at all Synods and meetings of Bishops and is accorded the title “Most Reverend”
