I. |prē(h)i|stȯrik, -tär-, -rēk adjective
or pre·his·tor·i·cal -rə̇kəl, -rēk-
Etymology: pre- + historic, historical
: of, relating to, or existing in times antedating written history
• pre·his·tor·i·cal·ly -rə̇k(ə)lē, -rēk-, -li adverb
II. adjective
1. : of or relating to a language in a period of its development from which contemporary records of its actual sounds and forms have not been preserved
2. : regarded as being outdated or outmoded
prehistoric attitudes