primordial

pri·mor·di·al  (pr-môrd-l)

adj.

1. Being or happening first in sequence of time; original.

2. Primary or fundamental: play a primordial role.

3. Biology Belonging to or characteristic of the earliest stage of development of an organism or a part: primordial cells.

n.

A basic principle.

---

[Middle English, from Late Latin prmrdilis, from Latin prmrdium, origin : prmus, first; see per¹ in Indo-European roots + rdr, to begin to weave; see ar- in Indo-European roots.]

---

pri·mordi·al·ly adv.

---

primordial

Adjective

Formal existing at or from the beginning [Late Latin primordialis original]

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

primordial - 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" primaeval, primeval, primal, aboriginal early - at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time; "early morning"; "an early warning"; "early diagnosis"; "an early death"; "took early retirement"; "an early spring"; "early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties"

---

primordial

adjective 1. primeval, primitive, first, earliest, pristine, primal, prehistoric

adjective 2. fundamental, original, basic, radical, elemental