precivilization

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noun

The time prior to civilization.

Scrabble 31
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Meanings

nounprecivilization (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe time prior to civilization.

    In “Benguelê” (which refers to slaves’ nostalgic longing for Africa) he makes extensive use of crouching, stooped bodies in a simian, loping walk, arms hanging loosely and head down to suggest tribal dances, rituals, animals, a precivilization.

    2008 March 27, Roslyn Sulcas, “Exotica of Brazil in Motion”, in New York Times

Origin

From pre- + civilization.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

precivilization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/precivilization

MLA

“precivilization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/precivilization. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “precivilization,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/precivilization.

Source: precivilization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.