primeval

or pri·mae·val

[ prahy-mee-vuhl ]
/ praɪˈmi vəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR primeval ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to the first age or ages, especially of the world: primeval forms of life.

Origin of primeval

1765–75; < Latin prīmaev(us) young ( prīm(us) prime + aev(um) age + -us adj. suffix) + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM primeval

pri·me·val·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH primeval

primal primeval primordial

Words nearby primeval

prime vertical, primely, primer, primero, primers, primeval, primigravida, primine, priming, primipara, primitive

Words related to primeval

pristine, primal, primitive, primordial, prehistoric, earliest, early, first, old, original, primary

Example sentences from the Web for primeval

British Dictionary definitions for primeval

primeval

primaeval

/ (praɪˈmiːvəl) /

adjective

of or belonging to the first age or ages, esp of the world

Derived forms of primeval

primevally or primaevally, adverb

Word Origin for primeval

C17: from Latin prīmaevus youthful, from prīmus first + aevum age