Primeval | Definition of primeval by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of PRIMEVAL

1

: of or relating to the earliest ages (as of the world or human history) : ancient, primitive <100 acres of primeval forest which has never felt an ax — Mary R. Zimmer>

2

: primordial 1b

— pri·me·val·ly \-və-lē\ adverb

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Origin of PRIMEVAL

Latin primaevus, from primus first + aevum age — more at aye

First Known Use: 1662

Related to PRIMEVAL

Synonyms: ancient, primal, early, primitive, primordial

Antonyms: late

Rhymes with PRIMEVAL

boll weevil, coeval, king's evil, medieval, reprieval, retrieval, upheaval

Definition of PRIMEVAL for Kids

: belonging to the earliest time : primitive <… wild dogs ranged in packs through the primeval forest … — Jack London, The Call of the Wild>

Word Root of PRIMEVAL

The Latin word primus, meaning “first,” gives us the root prim. Words from the Latin primus have something to do with being first. Anything primary comes first in importance or order. Anything primeval belongs to a period of time that came first, before the present. Anything primitive also belongs to an earlier time.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "primeval"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "primeval"

Nglish: Translation of "primeval" for Spanish speakers

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