1. of or relating to the earliest ages; ancient; primitive
Usage: chiefly British spelling; American English typically uses 'primeval'
2. of or belonging to the first or earliest period of the world or of human existence
Usage: often used in geological or evolutionary contexts

Examples

• The primaeval forests of the Amazon contain species unknown to science.
• Archaeologists discovered primaeval tools dating back thousands of years.
• The novel depicts a primaeval world inhabited by dinosaurs and early humans.
• Primaeval instincts still influence human behavior in modern society.
• The primaeval landscape was shaped by volcanic activity and glaciation.
• Scientists study primaeval organisms preserved in amber.