primitives

[prim-i-tiv]

prim·i·tive

[prim-i-tiv]
adjective
1.
being the first or earliest of the kind or in existence, especially in an early age of the world: primitive forms of life.
2.
early in the history of the world or of humankind.
3.
characteristic of early ages or of an early state of human development: primitive toolmaking.
4.
Anthropology. of or pertaining to a preliterate or tribal people having cultural or physical similarities with their early ancestors: no longer in technical use.
5.
unaffected or little affected by civilizing influences; uncivilized; savage: primitive passions.
EXPAND
6.
being in its earliest period; early: the primitive phase of the history of a town.
7.
old-fashioned: primitive ideas and habits.
8.
simple; unsophisticated: a primitive farm implement.
9.
crude; unrefined: primitive living conditions.
10.
Linguistics.
a.
of or pertaining to a form from which a word or other linguistic form is derived; not derivative; original or radical.
b.
of or pertaining to a protolanguage.
c.
of or pertaining to a linguistic prime.
11.
primary, as distinguished from secondary.
12.
Biology.
a.
rudimentary; primordial.
b.
noting species, varieties, etc., only slightly evolved from early antecedent types.
c.
of early formation and temporary, as a part that subsequently disappears.
COLLAPSE
noun
13.
someone or something primitive.
14.
Fine Arts.
a.
an artist of a preliterate culture.
b.
a naive or unschooled artist.
c.
an artist belonging to the early stage in the development of a style.
d.
a work of art by a primitive artist.
15.
Mathematics.
a.
a geometric or algebraic form or expression from which another is derived.
b.
a function of which the derivative is a given function.
16.
Linguistics. the form from which a given word or other linguistic form has been derived, by either morphological or historical processes, as take in undertake.

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Primitives is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English (noun and adj.) (< Middle French primitif) < Latin prīmitīvus first of its kind. See prime, -itive

prim·i·tive·ly, adverb
prim·i·tive·ness, prim·i·tiv·i·ty, noun
non·prim·i·tive, adjective, noun
non·prim·i·tive·ly, adverb
non·prim·i·tive·ness, noun
EXPAND
pre·prim·i·tive, adjective
pseu·do·prim·i·tive, adjective
sem·i·prim·i·tive, adjective
un·prim·i·tive, adjective
un·prim·i·tive·ly, adverb
un·prim·i·tive·ness, noun
COLLAPSE


1, 2. prehistoric, primal, primary, primordial, original, aboriginal, antediluvian, pristine. See prime.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To primitives
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
primitive   (prĭm'ĭ-tĭv)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Relating to an early or original stage.

  2. Having evolved very little from an early type. Lampreys and sturgeon are primitive fishes.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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