Primal
/ˈpraɪməl/noun
Relating to the earliest stage of something; fundamental or original.
Did you know?Primal descends from Latin primus, “first,” the same root that gave English prime, primary, and primer—words built around rank, order, and beginnings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*prei-
“to be first, before”
Latin
Latin
primus
“first, foremost”
Late Latin
Latin
prīmalis
“of the first rank; original”
Middle English
English
primal
“first in order; original”
Modern English
English
primal
“relating to the earliest stage of something; fundamental or instinctive”