primed
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Said of a person in that state of incipient intoxication that if he took more drink it would become evident. Also, crammed for an examination.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “primed” mean?
Said of a person in that state of incipient intoxication that if he took more drink it would become evident. Also, crammed for an examination.
Is “primed” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.