primeval

 
Pronunciation: /prʌɪˈmiːv(ə)l/
(also primaeval)

adjective

  • of the earliest time in history: mile after mile of primeval forest
  • (of emotion or behaviour) strongly instinctive and unreasoning: a primeval desire

Derivatives

primevally

adverb

Origin:

mid 17th century: from Latin primaevus (from primus 'first' + aevum 'age') + -al

Spelling help

Primeval can also be spelled primaeval, with an a before the e: both are correct.