English Explanatory Dictionary

primitive

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.
  2. A member of a primitive society.
  3. Primitive or primeval nature; the innate, instinctive element within a person; the deep, instinctive, precultural layer of human nature.
  4. Natural or premodern environment or conditions; life lacking modern technology and society.
  5. A simple-minded person.
  6. A data type that is built into the programming language, as opposed to more complex structures.
  7. Any of the simplest elements (instructions, statements, etc.) available in a programming language.
  8. A basic geometric shape from which more complex shapes can be constructed.
  9. A function whose derivative is a given function; an antiderivative.
adj
  1. Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first.
  2. Of or pertaining to or harking back to a former time; old-fashioned; characterized by simplicity.
  3. Relating to an art style characterized by asymmetrical shapes and faded colors.
  4. Crude, obsolete.
  5. Original; primary; radical; not derived.
  6. Occurring in or characteristic of an early stage of development or evolution.
  7. Not derived from another of the same type
  8. most recent common ancestor (often hypothetical) of

Pronunciation

/ˈpɹɪmɪtɪv/ en-us-primitive.ogg

Word forms

primitive primitives primative more primitive most primitive

Etymology

From Middle English primitif, from Old French primitif, from Latin prīmitīvus (“first or earliest of its kind”), from prīmus (“first”); see prime. Doublet of primitivo.

Synonyms

primitive word radical radical word incipient nascent primary beginning commencing earliest first initial maiden opening original prime primeval primitive primordial starting backwards old-timey retro rudimentary undeveloped antiquated outworn crude garagelike rough rude rudimental unrefined anachronistic antediluvial antediluvian antique archaic backward behind the times cobwebbed cobwebby dated defunct desuete discontinued disused dootsie elderly extinct expired fossilized Havishamesque hoary idle Miss Havishamesque mouldy obsolete old oldfangled old-fashioned

Antonyms

derivative derived

Derived words

modern primitive AADAOPA multiprimitive neoprimitive neoprimitivist nonprimitive preprimitive primitive art primitive colour primitive concept primitive element Primitive Irish primitively primitiveness primitive notion primitive polynomial primitive recursion primitive recursive primitive reflex primitive root primitive streak primitive type primitive wrapper class primitivism primitivist primitivistic primitivity primitivize quasiprimitive semiprimitive ultraprimitive unprimitive
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