primordial

views updated Jun 11 2018

pri·mor·di·al / prīˈmôrdēəl/ • adj. existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval: the primordial oceans. ∎  (esp. of a state or quality) basic and fundamental: the primordial needs of the masses. ∎  Biol. (of a cell, part, or tissue) in the earliest stage of development.DERIVATIVES: pri·mor·di·al·i·ty / ˌprīˌmôrdēˈalətē/ n.pri·mor·di·al·ly adv.

primordial

views updated May 29 2018

primordial XIV. — late L. prīmōrdiālis, f. prīmōrdium, sb. use of n. of prīmōrdius original, f. prīmus first, PRIME2 + base of ōrdīrī begin; see -IAL.

primordial

views updated May 08 2018

primordial The period of time at, or just before, the final formation of the Earth.

primordial

views updated May 17 2018

primordial (pry-mor-di-ăl) adj. (in embryology) describing cells or tissues that are formed in the early stages of embryonic development.