primitives

as incannibal
as inaborigine

Synonyms for primitives

noun beast, beastlike human

Antonyms for primitives

humanitarian

Word Origin & History

late 14c., "of an original cause; of a thing from which something is derived; not secondary" (a sense now associated with primary), from Old French primitif "very first, original" (14c.) and directly from Latin primitivus "first or earliest of its kind," from primitus "at first," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)).

Meaning "of or belonging to the first age" is from early 15c. Meaning "having the style of an early or ancient time" is from 1680s. In Christian sense of "adhering to the qualities of the early Church" it is recorded from 1680s. Of untrained artists from 1942. Related: Primitively.

Example Sentences for primitives

"The religion that's going among the Primitives these days is just Popery," said Csar.

These primitives have become the most consummate of sharpers.

Certain signs expressing simple objects or ideas may be considered as the roots or primitives of this language.

No one can doubt this who has a knowledge of the Spanish Primitives.

The Scots have all the English primitives, and many hundreds besides.

Nothing short of certain of the Primitives can approach them.

And the great French primitives and the Roman architects and sculptors!

The love of beauty and the simple religion of the Primitives is transferred to us.

But the first American artists were not savages, they were not primitives.

I think of the primitives, of their sensitive and conscientious landscapes.