pre·mier 
(prĭ-mîr, -myîr, prēmîr)
(prĭ-mîr, -myîr, prēmîr)adj.
1. First in status or importance; principal or chief: an architect of premier rank.
2. First to occur or exist; earliest.
n. (prĭ-mîr)
1. A prime minister.
2. A chief administrative officer, as of a Canadian province.
[Middle English primier, from Old French, from Latin prīmārius, from prīmus, first; see per1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
pre·miership′ n.