primitive

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a person who belongs to an early stage of civilization
  2. noun a mathematical expression from which another expression is derived
  3. noun a word serving as the basis for inflected or derived forms

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

primitive person

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