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Synonyms

primordial

American  
[prahy-mawr-dee-uhl] / praɪˈmɔr di əl /

adjective

  1. constituting a beginning; giving origin to something derived or developed; original; elementary.

    primordial forms of life.

  2. Embryology. first formed.

  3. pertaining to or existing at or from the very beginning.

    primordial matter.


primordial British  
/ praɪˈmɔːdɪəl /

adjective

  1. existing at or from the beginning; earliest; primeval

  2. constituting an origin; fundamental

  3. biology of or relating to an early stage of development

    primordial germ cells

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an elementary or basic principle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • primordiality noun
  • primordially adverb

Etymology

Origin of primordial

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin prīmōrdiālis of the beginning. See primordium, -al 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The model also predicts a minimum level of primordial gravitational waves, which are tiny ripples in spacetime created shortly after the Big Bang.

From Science Daily

In retrospect, taken collectively, much of McCarthy’s work as an actor, filmmaker and journalist hinges on the friendship motif — that primordial ache to belong, that yearning to be seen.

From Los Angeles Times

"Comets are leftovers of the era of solar system formation, so they're made of 'old stuff' -- the primordial materials that made our solar system," said Bodewits.

From Science Daily

Glass removed violins from the orchestra to achieve a dark, primordial orchestral sound along with pounding percussion.

From Los Angeles Times

Recent discoveries about similar art-filled caves in France suggest that our ancestors were creating more than murals and pointillism beneath the primordial mists.

From The Wall Street Journal