primitive

What it means

1. human sciencesAn original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.

   Synonyms: primitive word, radical, radical word

2. A member of a primitive society.
3. Primitive or primeval nature; the innate, instinctive element within a person; the deep, instinctive, precultural layer of human nature.

   It may be that, living among primitive surroundings, the dormant primitive deep within the white man is drawn towards the absolute primitive in the aboriginal.

   1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 54

In a sentence

It may be that, living among primitive surroundings, the dormant primitive deep within the white man is drawn towards the absolute primitive in the aboriginal.

1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 54

Where it comes from

1. Latinprīmitīvus“first or earliest of its kind”
2. Old Frenchprimitif
3. Middle Englishprimitif
4. Englishprimitive

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.