Mid 19th century; earliest use found in American Whig Review. From post-classical Latin prima philosophia from classical Latin prīma, feminine of prīmus + philosophia, after ancient Greek ἡ πρώτη ϕιλοσοϕία metaphysics (Aristotle).
Definition of prima philosophia in US English:
prima philosophia
nounˌpriːmə fɪlə(ʊ)ˈsɒfɪə
= philosophia prima.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in American Whig Review. From post-classical Latin prima philosophia from classical Latin prīma, feminine of prīmus + philosophia, after ancient Greek ἡ πρώτη ϕιλοσοϕία metaphysics (Aristotle).