adj.
Pronunciation: pr ī - ' m ē -v ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin primaevus, from primus first + aevum age ― more at AYE
Date: 1662
1 : of or relating to the earliest ages (as of the world or human history) : ANCIENT , PRIMITIVE <100 acres of primeval forest which has never felt an ax ― Mary R. Zimmer>
2 : PRIMORDIAL 1B
– pri · me · val · ly \ -v ə -l ē \ adverb