Pri-môr′di-al1, a.
a. [Lat. primordialis, from primordium, the first beginning, from primus, first, and ordiri, to begin a web, to begin; Fr., Pr., Sp., & Pg. primordial, It. primordiale.]
- First in order; original; existing from the beginning; of earliest origin. “The primordial facts of our intelligent nature.” Sir W. Hamilton.
- (Geol.) Of, or pertaining to, the lowest beds of the Silurian period, corresponding to the Potsdam period in American geology; — so applied by Barrande. Dana.
- (Physiol.) (a.) Pertaining to or being the original or earliest materials in the growth of an individual or organ. (b.) Marking the earliest formed organ or condition; as, a primordial leaf, or that first after the cotyledon.