primaeval pri·mae·val uncommon adjective 1. having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or original stage or state “aboriginal forests” “primal eras before the appearance of life on earth” “the forest primeval” “primordial matter” “primordial forms of life” Synonymsaboriginalprimalprimevalprimordial Similarearly WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.