primeval

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Belonging to the earliest ages of the world; very ancient.

   The explorers pushed deep into the primeval forest.

2. 2
   adj

   Deep and instinctive, as if from the dawn of human existence.

   A primeval fear gripped her as the lights went out.

From Latin primaevus (“in the first or earliest period of life”) + -al, from primus (“first”) + aevum (“time, age”); see prime and age.

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