pristine

pristine
pristine
1. The usual pronunciation now is pris-teen, although the stress varies between the two syllables (and is often placed on the second in AmE).
2. The primary meaning of pristine is that present in Latin pristinus which meant ‘ancient, original’ in a favourable sense:

• The translators…have happily preserved for us the pristine simplicity of our Saxon-English —Disraeli, 1841.

It is a short step from the notion of ‘in its original newness’ to ‘new as if original’ and hence simply ‘pure or clean as new’, the meaning acquired by the word in the 20c. Although objected to by language purists, the developed meaning is well established alongside the original meaning:

• Thinking of the sour blackened brick of the place (scoured clean to a pristine rust once more) —Penelope Lively, 1991

• The pitch, as ever, looked in pristine condition at kick-off —York Press, 2001.


Modern English usage. 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pristine — (Wien 2008) Pristine ist eine österreichische Alternative Rock Band, die durch Teilnahme am Ö3 Soundcheck und Veröffentlichung ihrer Debütsingle Supernatural im Jahr 2007 bekannt wurde. 2009 musste sich die Band von Pristine in Zealmen umbenennen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pristine — Pris tine, a. [L. pristinus, akin to prior: cf. F. pristin. See {Prior}, a.] Belonging to the earliest period or state; original; primitive; primeval; as, the pristine state of innocence; the pristine manners of a people; pristine vigor. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pristine — (adj.) 1530s, pertaining to the earliest period, primitive, ancient, from M.Fr. pristin (fem. pristine), from L. pristinus former, from Old L. pri before (see PRIME (Cf. prime) (adj.)). Meaning unspoiled, untouched, pure is from 1899 (implied in… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pristine — [pris′tēn΄, pris′tin; pris tēn′; ] chiefly Brit [ pris′tīn΄] adj. [L pristinus, former < OL pri, before: see PRIME] 1. characteristic of the earliest, or an earlier, period or condition; original ☆ 2. still pure; uncorrupted; unspoiled… …   English World dictionary

  • pristine — index initial, original (initial), primordial Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • pristine — primeval, primordial, primitive, primal, *primary, prime Analogous words: original, fresh, *new …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • pristine — [adj] clean, pure; primeval earliest, early, first, immaculate, intact, natural, original, primal, purified, refined, sanitary, snowy, spotless, stainless, sterile, sterilized, taintless, unadulterated, uncorrupted, undebased, unpolluted,… …   New thesaurus

  • pristine — ► ADJECTIVE 1) in its original condition. 2) clean and fresh as if new. ORIGIN Latin pristinus former …   English terms dictionary

  • pristine — UK [ˈprɪstiːn] / US [ˈprɪˌstɪn] adjective 1) something that is pristine looks very clean, tidy, or new pristine snow/beaches/lawns in pristine condition: The bike was in pristine condition. 2) something that is pristine involves behaviour that is …   English dictionary

  • pristine — pris|tine [ prı,stin ] adjective something that is pristine looks very clean, neat, or new: pristine snow/beaches/lawns in pristine condition: The bike was in pristine condition. a. used about someone whose behavior is very moral: a pristine… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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