primitive

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   used of preliterate or tribal or nonindustrial societies

   primitive societies

2. 2
   noun

   a word serving as the basis for inflected or derived forms

   `pick' is the primitive from which `picket' is derived

3. 3
   noun

   Primitive or primeval nature; the innate, instinctive element within a person; the deep, instinctive, precultural layer of human nature.

   It may be that, living among primitive surroundings, the dormant primitive deep within the white man is drawn towards the absolute primitive in the aboriginal.

4. 4
   noun

   Natural or premodern environment or conditions; life lacking modern technology and society.

   Out there in the primitive, white-man Rust had made his tools out of the primitive, as these stone-age people were making excellent string from the primitive.

5. 5
   noun

   Any of the simplest elements (instructions, statements, etc.) available in a programming language.

   A write-what-where primitive allows the attacker to write arbitrary data wherever they want in the memory

6. 6
   adj

   Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first.

   primitive innocence; the primitive church

7. 7
   adj

   Of or pertaining to or harking back to a former time; old-fashioned; characterized by simplicity.

   a primitive style of dress

8. 8
   adj

   Crude, obsolete.

   primitive ideas

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.