| 释义 |
primeval, primæval, a. (n.)|praɪˈmiːvəl|
[f. L. prīmæv-us (see primeve) + -al1.]
Of or pertaining to the first age of the world or of anything ancient; primitive.
α [1653Urquhart Rabelais ii. vi. 33 The primeval origin of my aves and ataves, was indigenarie of the Lemonick regions, where requiesceth the corpor of the hagiotat St. Martial.] 1775De Lolme Eng. Const. i. i. (1784) 25 The principle of primeval equality. 1830Lyell Princ. Geol. (1875) I. i. viii. 140 A primeval state of the globe. 1847Longfellow Ev. Prel. 1, This is the forest primeval.
β1662H. More Philos. Writ. Pref. Gen. 24 It is very plain that the primæval Ages of the Church had no ill conceit of the opinion of the Soul's Præexistence. 1728Pope Dunc. iii. 338 With Night primæval, and with Chaos old. Ibid. iv. 630. 1868 Freeman Norm Conq. II. vii. 145 note, These two remarkable monuments of primæval times.
b. as n. in pl. Primeval men.
a1845Hood Recipe for Civiliz. 115 But, the naked truth is, stark primevals, That said their prayers to timber devils.
Hence priˈmevalism, priˈmevalness, the quality of being primeval; primitiveness; priˈmevally adv., in the first age of the world; also, in a primeval manner or degree.
a1711Ken Urania Poet. Wks. 1721 IV. 475 Sweet Poetry..From God primevally it streams. 1727Bailey vol. II, Primevalness. 1839Lady Lytton Cheveley iii, How gloriously, how primevally beautiful, is just this one favoured spot! 1899F. R. Stockton Associate Hermits 22, I had visions of forests and wilds..and a general air of primevalism. 1971D. Crystal Linguistics ii. 49 What evidence there was about language-history..militated against acceptance of even the most basic assumptions used in the arguments about primevalness. |