Where does “primal” come from?
Primal derives from Medieval Latin primalis, from Latin primus meaning "first," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European per-.
primal (English): Being the first in time or in history; Of...
Definitions
- Being the first in time or in history; Of...
Ancestry of “primal”, step by step
primal traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English Prime
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Prime | First in importance, degree, or rank |
| 2 | French | prime | reward; prize; bonus; premium |
| 3 | Old French | prim | — |
| 4 | Latin | prīmus | — |
| 5 | Latin | prīsmos | — |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | priisemos | foremost, first |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via Spanish primo
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | primo | cousin; first; prime |
| 2 | Latin | ([[cōnsobrīnus]]) [[prīmus]] | — |
via Medieval Latin primalis
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medieval Latin | primalis | — |