Primitive

GRE TOEFL 考研

[编辑] 解释

I. adjective

Etymology: Middle English primitif, from Latin primitivus first formed, from primitiae first fruits, from primus first — more at prime
Date: 14th century
1.
- a. not derived ; original, primary
- b. assumed as a basis; especially axiomatic <primitive concepts>
2.
- a. of or relating to the earliest age or period ; primeval <the primitive church>
- b. closely approximating an early ancestral type ; little evolved <primitive mammals>
- c. belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development ; crude, rudimentary <primitive technology>
- d. of, relating to, or constituting the assumed parent speech of related languages <primitive Germanic>
3.
- a. elemental, natural <our primitive feelings of vengeance — John Mackwood>
- b. of, relating to, or produced by a people or culture that is nonindustrial and often nonliterate and tribal <primitive art>
- c. naive
- d.
  - (1) self-taught, untutored <primitive craftsmen>
  - (2) produced by a self-taught artist <a primitive painting>
? primitively adverb
? primitiveness noun
? primitivity noun

II. noun

Date: 15th century
1.
- a. something primitive; specifically a primitive idea, term, or proposition
- b. a root word
2.
- a.
  - (1) an artist of an early period of a culture or artistic movement
  - (2) a later imitator or follower of such an artist
- b.
  - (1) a self-taught artist
  - (2) an artist whose work is marked by directness and na?veté
- c. a work of art produced by a primitive artist
- d. a typically rough or simple usually handmade and antique home accessory or furnishing
3.
- a. a member of a primitive people
- b. an unsophisticated person