Primitive

Primitive

Primitive is a subjective label used to imply that one thing is less "sophisticated" or less "advanced" than some other thing. Being a comparative word it is also relative in nature.

Indigenous peoples and their beliefs and practices are sometimes described as "primitive", a usage that is seen as unhelpful and inaccurate by the vast majority of contemporary anthropologists and similar professionals.

There are also various political or theoretical concepts regarding the primitive condition, or its advocation. Primitive communism postulates a pre-agrarian form of communism. Anarcho-primitivism advocates a return to a primitive condition. Luddites had a related philosophy.

Primitive" may refer to:

* Anarcho-primitivism, an anarchist critique of the origins and progress of civilization
* Primitive culture, one that lacks major signs of economic development or modernity
* Noble savage, uncorrupted by the influences of civilization
* Primitive communism, according to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
* Primitive Baptist, have an historical connection to an early 19th century controversy
* Primitive (biology), characteristic of an early stage of development or evolution, cf. "basal"

In mathematics:
* Primitive (geometry), the simplest kinds of figures
* Primitive element (field theory)
* Primitive element (finite field)
* Primitive cell (crystallography)
* Primitive polynomial, one of two concepts
* Primitive function or Antiderivative, "F"′ = "f"

In computer science:
* Machine code, instructions and data directly understandable by a CPU
* Primitive type, datatypes provided by a programming language
* Primitive (geometry), the simplest kinds of figures in computer graphics
* Cryptographic primitives, low-level cryptographic algorithms frequently used to build computer security systems

In art and entertainment:
* Naïve art, created by untrained artists
* Neo-primitivism, looks to early human history, folk art and non-Western or children's art for inspiration
* Primitive (song), by Cyndi Lauper
* Primitive (song), by The Groupies and covered by The Cramps
* The Primitives, a British indie rock band
* Primitive (album), by Soulfly
* Primitive Radio Gods, an American alternative rock band
* Primitivism, an early 20th century art movement


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Primitive — Prim i*tive, a. [L. primitivus, fr. primus the first: cf. F. primitif. See {Prime}, a.] 1. Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first; as, primitive innocence; the primitive church. Our… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • primitive — ● primitive nom féminin Instruction élémentaire ou fonction de base utilisée dans un langage de programmation. Pour une fonction f définie sur un intervalle de R et à valeurs réelles ou complexes, fonction F qui est dérivable et telle que F′ = f …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Primitive — Студийный альбом Soulfly Дата выпуска 26 сентября 2000 Записан The Saltmine Studio Oasis, Меса, Аризона Жанр …   Википедия

  • primitive — c.1400, of a thing from which something is derived, not secondary (a sense now associated with primary), from O.Fr. primitif (fem. primitive), from L. primitivus first or earliest of its kind, from primitus at first, from primus first (see PRIME… …   Etymology dictionary

  • primitive — [adj1] ancient, original archaic, basic, earliest, early, elementary, essential, first, fundamental, old, primal, primary, primeval, primordial, pristine, substratal, underivative, underived, underlying, undeveloped, unevolved; concept 799 Ant.… …   New thesaurus

  • primitive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to the earliest times in history or stages in development. 2) denoting a preliterate, non industrial society of simple organization. 3) offering an extremely basic level of comfort or convenience. 4) (of behaviour or… …   English terms dictionary

  • primitive — [prim′i tiv] adj. [ME primitif < MFr < L primitivus < primus, first: see PRIME] 1. of or existing in the beginning or the earliest times or ages; ancient; original 2. a) characteristic or imitative of the earliest ages b) crude, simple,… …   English World dictionary

  • Primitive — Prim i*tive, n. An original or primary word; a word not derived from another; opposed to derivative. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • primitive — primitive. См. примитивный. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • primitive — index brutal, elementary, incipient, obsolete, organic, original (initial), outdated, outmoded …   Law dictionary

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