Synonyms for primeval
praɪˈmi vəlprimeval

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. primeval

   Aboriginal (Latin ab, from, origo, origin) signifies pertaining to the aborigines or earliest known inhabitants of a country in the widest sense, including not merely human beings but inferior animals and plants as well. Autochthonic (Greek autos, self, and chthōn, earth) signifies sprung from the earth, especially from the soil of one's native land. Primeval (Latin primum, first, and ævum, age), signifies strictly belonging to the first ages, earliest in time, but often only the earliest of which man knows or conceives, immemorial. Aboriginal, autochthonic, and primeval combine the meanings of ancient and original; aboriginal inhabitants, autochthonic races, primeval forests. Prime and primary may signify either first in time, or more frequently first in importance; primary has also the sense of elementary or preparatory; we speak of a prime minister, a primary school. Primal is chiefly poetic, in the sense of prime; as, the primal curse. Primordial is first in an order of succession or development; as, a primordial leaf. Primitive frequently signifies having the original characteristics of that which it represents, as well as standing first in time; as, the primitive church. Primitive also very frequently signifies having the original or early characteristics without remoteness in time. Primeval simplicity is the simplicity of the earliest ages; primitive simplicity may be found in retired villages now. Pristine is an elegant word, used almost exclusively in a good sense of that which is original and perhaps ancient; as, pristine purity, innocence, vigor. That which is both an original and natural product of a soil or country is said to be indigenous; that which is actually produced there is said to be native, though it may be of foreign extraction; humming-birds are indigenous to America; canaries may be native, but are not indigenous. Immemorial refers solely to time, independently of quality, denoting, in legal phrase, "that whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary;" as, an immemorial custom; an immemorial abuse. Compare OLD.

   Compare synonyms for NEW.

   Synonyms:
   aboriginal, ancient, autochthonic, immemorial, indigenous, native, old, original, patriarchal, primal, primary, prime, primitive, primordial, pristine, uncreated

   Antonyms:
   adventitious, exotic, foreign, fresh, late, modern, new, novel, recent

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. primeval

   Synonyms:
   archaic, primordial, indigenous, autochthonic, aboriginal, pristine

   Antonyms:
   subsequent, recent, modern, imported, adventitious

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. aboriginal, primal, primeval, primaeval, primordialadjective

   having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or original stage or state

   "aboriginal forests"; "primal eras before the appearance of life on earth"; "the forest primeval"; "primordial matter"; "primordial forms of life"

   Synonyms:
   fundamental, primordial, native, aboriginal, cardinal, central, primaeval, key, primal

   Antonyms:
   late, middle

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. primevaladjective

   Synonyms:
   original, PRIMITIVE

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "primeval":

   primitive, virgin

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How to use primeval in a sentence?

1. Michael Oakeshott:

   As civilized human beings, we are the inheritors, neither of an inquiry about ourselves and the world, nor of an accumulating body of information, but of a conversation, begun in the primeval forests and extended and made more articulate in the course of centuries. It is a conversation which goes on both in public and within each of ourselves.

2. Paul Davies:

   Recent discoveries about the primeval cosmos oblige us to accept that the expanding universe has been set up in its motion with a cooperation of astonishing precision.

3. Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy:

   Through me you pass into the city of woe: Through me you pass into eternal pain: Through me among the people lost for aye. Justice the founder of my fabric moved: To rear me was the task of power divine, Supremest wisdom, and primeval love. Before me things create were none, save things Eternal, and eternal I shall endure. All hope abandon, ye who enter here.

4. Dante Alighieri:

   Through me you pass into the city of woeThrough me you pass into eternal painThrough me among the people lost for aye.Justice the founder of my fabric movedTo rear me was the task of power divine,Supremest wisdom, and primeval love.Before me things create were none, save thingsEternal, and eternal I shall endure.All hope abandon, ye who enter here.

5. Alistair McLean:

   Sometimes, the dogs start howling when the aurora appears here, it's so primeval, it sends shivers down your spine.