primordial

adjective

pri·​mor·​di·​al prī-ˈmȯr-dē-əl How to pronounce primordial (audio)
1
a
: first created or developed : primeval sense 1
b
: existing in or persisting from the beginning (as of a solar system or universe)
a primordial gas cloud
c
: earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ : primitive
primordial cells
2
: fundamental, primary
primordial human joysSir Winston Churchill
primordially adverb

Did you know?

The history of "primordial" began when the Latin words primus (meaning "first") and "ordiri" (meaning "to begin") came together to form "primordium," the Latin word for "origin." When it entered English in the 14th century, "primordial" was used in the general sense "primeval." Early on, there were hints that "primordial" would lend itself well to discussions of the earth's origins. Take, for instance, this passage from a 1398 translation of an encyclopedia called On the Properties of Things: "The virtu of God made primordial mater, in the whiche as it were in massy thinge the foure elementis were . . . nought distinguishd." Nowadays, primordial matter is often referred to in evolutionary theory as "primordial soup," a mixture of organic molecules from which life on earth originated.

Examples of primordial in a Sentence

all life on Earth supposedly came from a primordial ooze in existence many millions of years ago
Recent Examples on the Web To confirm the galaxy’s primordial nature, the team will seek approval to aim a large optical telescope at it for tens of hours — ironically, in the hopes of seeing nothing at all. Mark Zastrow, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 The site is simply a modern analog, or a natural snapshot of the past that ultimately offers scientists a chance to better understand what primordial Earth may have looked like outside of a lab. Ayurella Horn-Muller, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024 Or perhaps the growing planets siphon water vapor directly from the gas in the primordial disk—allowing gravity to build a humid atmosphere around their rocky core. Shannon Hall, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024 Past studies suggest a primordial version of the soda lake may very well have included the substance. Ayurella Horn-Muller, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024 The primordial solar nebula refers to the cloud of dust, ice and gas that the solar system was born within. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 Yet despite it all, residents and scientists are fighting back against the primordial force of nature. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2024 Some scientists favor a primordial explanation, with magnetism arising in the first moments after the Big Bang with the other fundamental forces. Quanta Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024 But the tragedy of the Apollo’s exit — martyred at the hands of glowering Soviet boxer Ivan Drago (Lundgren) in a Cold War perversion of Joe Louis’ matchup with German champ Max Schmeling — was thrilling in a more primordial way, like a comic book answer to Shakespeare or the Greeks. Vulture, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'primordial.' 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

Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin prīmōrdiālis, from Latin prīmōrdium (in plural prīmōrdia) "beginnings, origin, source, elementary stage" (from prīmus "first, earliest" + ōrd-, base of ōrdīrī "to lay a warp for weaving, embark on, begin" + -ium, deverbal suffix of function or state) + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at prime entry 2, order entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of primordial was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near primordial

Cite this Entry

“Primordial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primordial. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

primordial

adjective
pri·​mor·​di·​al prī-ˈmȯrd-ē-əl How to pronounce primordial (audio)
: first created or developed : primeval
primordially adverb

Medical Definition

primordial

adjective
pri·​mor·​di·​al prī-ˈmȯrd-ē-əl How to pronounce primordial (audio)
: earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ : primitive
the primordial skeleton

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