primeval

adjective

pri·​me·​val prī-ˈmē-vəl 

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 sense 1b

primevally

prī-ˈmē-və-lē 

adverb

Did you know?

First things first. "Primeval" comes from the Latin words primus, meaning "first, and aevum, meaning "age." In Latin, those terms were brought together to form "primaevus," a word that means "of or relating to the earliest ages." Other English words that descend from "primus" include "prime" and "primary," "primordial" (a synonym of "primeval"), and "primitive." "Primus" also gave rise to some terms for folks who are number one in charge, including "prince" and "principal."

Synonyms

• ancient
• early
• primal
• primitive
• primordial

Examples of primeval in a Sentence

primeval forests slowly disappearing as the climate changed

Recent Examples on the Web

The campground setting has a primeval feel, situated in dense old growth forest along the scenic Smith River, where banana slugs frolic (okay, maybe move slowly and strangely). —Jenna Blough, Outside Online, 8 Apr. 2025

The little mountain park lay almost at our feet, a gem of unspoiled primeval beauty. —Percy Brown, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025

About three hours from the capital city of Quito, Ecuador, the cloud forest feels primeval and otherworldly. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 1 Feb. 2025

The work recalls a kind of primeval decadence, in the best sense of that word. —R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

primeve, in same sense, or its source, Late Latin prīmaevus "earliest, original, principal" (going back to Latin, "young, youthful," from prīmus "first, foremost, earliest" + -aevus, adjective derivative of aevum "age, lifetime") + -al entry 1 — more at prime entry 1, aye entry 3

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for primeval

• coeval
• medieval
• retrieval
• upheaval
• evil
• weevil

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Kids Definition

primeval

adjective

pri·​me·​val prī-ˈmē-vəl 

: belonging to the earliest time : primitive

primevally

-və-lē 

adverb

Etymology

from Latin primaevus "relating to the very earliest ages," from primus "first" and aevum "age" — related to prime