primeval
/praɪˈmiːvəl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Primeval means very old and from the earliest time in history. It often describes things that seem wild, untouched, or basic like the first world or early nature.
- The forest had a primeval, untouched feel.
- They studied primeval human tools.
- The painting shows a primeval landscape.
Adinary Nuance
Primeval is close to ancient, prehistoric, and primordial, but it suggests the earliest age with a strong feeling of age and wildness. Use ancient for something simply very old, and prehistoric for a time before written history. Primeval sounds more literary and vivid than both.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nguyên thủy
- Spanish
- primitivo
- Chinese
- 原始的
- Japanese
- 原始の
- Korean
- 원시의
Etymology
Primeval comes from Late Latin primævus, meaning 'of the first age.' It entered English in the 1600s and has kept the sense of very early time.
Common phrases
primeval forestprimeval ageprimeval landscapeprimeval world
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is primeval the same as prehistoric?
- Not exactly. Primeval is broader and more literary. Prehistoric is used for times before written history.
- Is primeval formal?
- Yes, it is fairly formal and literary. You may see it in writing more than in everyday speech.
- Can I use primeval for nature?
- Yes. It often describes forests, landscapes, or the natural world as old and untouched.