I. ˈpri-mə-tiv adjective
Etymology: Middle English primitif, from Latin primitivus first formed, from primitiae first fruits, from primus first — more at prime
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : not derived : original , primary
b. : assumed as a basis ; especially : axiomatic
primitive concepts
2.
a. : of or relating to the earliest age or period : primeval
the primitive church
b. : closely approximating an early ancestral type : little evolved
primitive mammals
c. : belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development : crude , rudimentary
primitive technology
d. : of, relating to, or constituting the assumed parent speech of related languages
primitive Germanic
3.
a. : elemental , natural
our primitive feelings of vengeance — John Mackwood
b. : of, relating to, or produced by a people or culture that is nonindustrial and often nonliterate and tribal
primitive art
c. : naive
d.
(1) : self-taught , untutored
primitive craftsmen
(2) : produced by a self-taught artist
a primitive painting
• prim·i·tive·ly adverb
• prim·i·tive·ness noun
• prim·i·tiv·i·ty ˌpri-mə-ˈti-və-tē noun
II. noun
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : something primitive ; specifically : a primitive idea, term, or proposition
b. : a root word
2.
a.
(1) : an artist of an early period of a culture or artistic movement
(2) : a later imitator or follower of such an artist
b.
(1) : a self-taught artist
(2) : an artist whose work is marked by directness and naïveté
c. : a work of art produced by a primitive artist
d. : a typically rough or simple usually handmade and antique home accessory or furnishing
3.
a. : a member of a primitive people
b. : an unsophisticated person