primordial

adjective

pri·​mor·​di·​al prī-ˈmȯr-dē-əl 

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 joys

—Sir Winston Churchill

primordially

prī-ˈmȯr-dē-ə-lē 

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.

Synonyms

• ancient
• early
• primal
• primeval
• primitive

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

This is all mirrored by wordless sequences depicting the Simpson family’s prehistoric ancestors, rendered in an entirely different animation style that calls to mind cave etchings, as well as primordial Simpsons designs. —Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024

The team also modeled what a primordial black hole would do to a planet with a liquid core. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 5 Dec. 2024

So they were brought together in the smell of all primordial velvets. —Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 4 Dec. 2024

While some water likely existed in the primordial gas and dust that formed Earth about 4.6 billion years ago, much of it would have vaporized due to the planet's proximity to the sun. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024

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 1, order entry 2

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing primordial

• primordial soup

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Kids Definition

primordial

adjective

pri·​mor·​di·​al prī-ˈmȯrd-ē-əl 

: first created or developed : primeval

primordially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

primordial

adjective

pri·​mor·​di·​al prī-ˈmȯrd-ē-əl 

: earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ : primitive

the primordial skeleton