primeval, primeval

[Lat. primævus, from primus first, and ævum =an age.] 1. Original, primitive; belonging to the first or earliest period. "Hatch primeval day."-Black more: Creation, i. 2. Original, primary. "Or when my first harangue received applause, His sage instruction the primeval cause." Byron: Childish Recollections , pri-me-val-ly, adv. [Eng. primeval; -ly.] In a primeval manner or time; originally; in the earliest times or period. *pri-me-vous, a. [Lat. primævus .] The same as PRIMEVAL (q. v.).