Definition of PRIMORDIAL (original) (raw)
1
b
: existing in or persisting from the beginning (as of a solar system or universe)
c
: earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ : primitive
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The history of "primordial" began when the Latin words primus (meaning "first") and "ordiri" (meaning "to begin") came together to form "primordium," the Latin word for "origin." When it entered English in the 14th century, "primordial" was used in the general sense "primeval." Early on, there were hints that "primordial" would lend itself well to discussions of the earth's origins. Take, for instance, this passage from a 1398 translation of an encyclopedia called On the Properties of Things: "The virtu of God made primordial mater, in the whiche as it were in massy thinge the foure elementis were . . . nought distinguishd." Nowadays, primordial matter is often referred to in evolutionary theory as "primordial soup," a mixture of organic molecules from which life on earth originated.
Synonyms
Examples of primordial in a Sentence
all life on Earth supposedly came from a primordial ooze in existence many millions of years ago
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Scientists theorized that the asteroid contained traces of water and organic molecules and that similar asteroids could have brought these materials to a primordial Earth. —
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025 Colossal has established a flock of Nicobar pigeons, the dodo’s closest living relative, which will act as donors for primordial germ cells that will be genetically edited to have dodo characteristics. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025 In our own solar system, comets are among the most primordial material—leftovers from the protoplanetary disk. —Elise Cutts, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2024 There is a primordial quality to the woods that oscillates between cacophonous forest chatter and eerie silence in the space of a ridge or two. —Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for primordial 
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin prīmōrdiālis, from Latin prīmōrdium (in plural prīmōrdia) "beginnings, origin, source, elementary stage" (from prīmus "first, earliest" + ōrd-, base of ōrdīrī "to lay a warp for weaving, embark on, begin" + -ium, deverbal suffix of function or state) + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at prime entry 1, order entry 2
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of primordial was in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near primordial
Cite this Entry
“Primordial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primordial. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 2 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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