pri ‧ mal /ˈpraɪm ə l/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun] formal
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Medieval Latin ; Origin: primalis , from Latin primus ; ⇨ ↑ prime 1 ]
primal feelings or actions seem to belong to a part of people’s character that is ancient and animal-like:
a primal fear of the unknown