“primitives” is a form of
primitive
/ˈpɹɪmɪtɪv/ noun, adjective
Forms primitives primative
- noun (linguistics) An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.
- noun A member of a primitive society.
- noun Primitive or primeval nature; the innate, instinctive element within a person; the deep, instinctive, precultural layer of human nature.
- noun Natural or premodern environment or conditions; life lacking modern technology and society.
- noun A simple-minded person.
- noun (programming) A data type that is built into the programming language, as opposed to more complex structures.
- noun (programming) Any of the simplest elements (instructions, statements, etc.) available in a programming language.
- noun A basic geometric shape from which more complex shapes can be constructed.
- adjective Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first. “primitive innocence; the primitive church”
- adjective Of or pertaining to or harking back to a former time; old-fashioned; characterized by simplicity. “a primitive style of dress”
- adjective Relating to an art style characterized by asymmetrical shapes and faded colors. “I used primitive hearts to decorate the quilt.”
- adjective Crude, obsolete. “primitive ideas”
- adjective (grammar) Original; primary; radical; not derived. “a primitive verb”
- adjective (biology, dated) Occurring in or characteristic of an early stage of development or evolution.
- adjective (mathematics) Not derived from another of the same type
- adjective (linguistics, dated) most recent common ancestor (often hypothetical) of
Synonyms
primitive word radical radical word incipient nascent primary beginning commencing earliest first initial maiden opening original prime primeval primordial starting backwards old-timey primitive person crude rude archaic naive
Antonyms
Etymology
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.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first; as, primitive innocence; the primitive church. "Our primitive great sire." Milton.
- adjective Of or pertaining to a former time; old-fashioned; characterized by simplicity; as, a primitive style of dress.
- noun An original or primary word; a word not derived from another; - -opposed to derivative.
Etymology [L. primitivus, fr. primus the first: cf. F. primitif. See Prime, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “primitive”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details