primeval

English

Alternative forms

• primaeval
• primæval

Etymology

From primevous + -al. Further, primevous, from Latin primaevus (“in the first or earliest period of life”), from primus (“first”) + aevum (“time, age”); see prime and age.

Pronunciation

• enPR: "prīm'ēvəl, IPA: /ˈpɹaɪˌmi.vəl/, SAMPA: /"pr\aI%mi.v@l/

Adjective

primeval (comparative more primeval, superlative most primeval)

1. Belonging to the first ages.
2. Primary; original.
3. Primitive.

Translations

belonging to the first ages

Czech: pravěký (cs) m. Finnish: alku- (fi), iki- (fi) French: primitif (fr) m. Greek: αρχέγονος (el) (archégonos) Irish: príomhaoiseach (ga), cianaosta (ga)

Manx: bun-eashagh (gv) Russian: первобытный (ru) (pervobýtnyj) Scottish Gaelic: àrsaidh (gd), seantaidh (gd) Tagalog: ka-noon-noonan; noong-unang-panahon

External links

• primeval in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• primeval in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911