primum mobile

pri·mum mo·bi·le  (prmm mb-l, prmm mb-l)

n.

1. The tenth and outermost concentric sphere of the universe thought in Ptolemaic astronomy to revolve around the earth from east to west in 24 hours and believed to cause the other nine spheres to revolve with it.

2. See prime mover.

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[Medieval Latin prmum mbile : prmum, neuter of prmus, first + mbile, from neuter of mbilis, movable (translation of Arabic al-muarrik al-'awwal : al-, the + muarrik, mover + 'awwal, first).]

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primum mobile Latin [ˈpraɪmʊm ˈməʊbɪlɪ]

n

1. a prime mover

2. (Astronomy) Astronomy the outermost empty sphere in the Ptolemaic system that was thought to revolve around the earth from east to west in 24 hours carrying with it the inner spheres of the planets, sun, moon, and fixed stars

[from Medieval Latin: first moving (thing)]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

primum mobile - an agent that is the cause of all things but does not itself have a cause; "God is the first cause" first cause, prime mover causal agency, causal agent, cause - any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results