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 of primeval

• ancient
• primitive
• primal
• prehistoric
• primordial
• early

Examples of primeval in a Sentence

primeval forests slowly disappearing as the climate changed

Recent Examples on the Web

Here, in the middle of the Białowieża National Park—a primeval forest, a tourist destination, a place where Polish villagers foraged mushrooms to fry in butter and salt—was a man on the run from the border guard. —Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026

The fragrance that wafts from the dish when the lid is lifted heightens the anticipation, the nose being the first point of entry and the most primeval of our senses. —Literary Hub, 4 Feb. 2026

Astrophysicists now believe that this nebulous stuff is a stellar incubator; the primeval chaos from which star formation is presently underway. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Jan. 2026

This 50-square-mile crescent in the Pacific has the southernmost coral reef in the world and a wealth of wilderness walks that include everything from primeval banyan forests to endangered ground-dwelling birds. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 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