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."
primeval forests slowly disappearing as the climate changed
Recent Examples on the WebThe forests of the eastern United States are another puzzle: European settlers cut down 95 percent of the primeval woods, yet only four species of bird have gone extinct.—John Fleischman, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Enlarge Liu Yang On an island off the coast of New Zealand, in the shadows of a primeval forest, an eerie sound resonates through the night.—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2023 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California Time slows to a primeval pace in this giant sequoia grove, where 275-foot-tall statesmen have watched the seasons come and go for more than 2,000 years.—Sarah L. Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2023 Each explosion was preceded by a primeval gurgle that gave way to bursts of lava.—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2023 Blood Meridian and Stella Maris in particular enjoin it with the primeval, timeless forces that precede our own human origins.—Caine O'Rear, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2023 Alongside primeval images of people and animals, the artist also memorializes modern-day totems: the metal towers that support high-voltage electrical transmission lines.—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 7 June 2023 The locations used, according to the press notes, were ancient old growth forests in the Landes de Gascogne National Park, whose primeval ecology perfectly suits the story.—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023 Some of the most scenic trekking routes include Bijodaira, a primeval forest that’s home to 1,000-year-old cedars and beech trees, and Murodo (near the snow wall walk), where visitors can find the photogenic volcanic crater lake of Mikurigaike and the oldest mountain hut in Japan.—Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN, 13 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'primeval.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 2, aye entry 3
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