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primordium

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin prīmordium.

Noun

primordium (plural primordia)

  1. (anatomy) An aggregation of cells that is the first stage in the development of an organ.
    Synonyms: anlage, (obsolete) proton
    • 2017, Taylor A. Steeves, Vipen K. Sawhney, Essentials of Developmental Plant Anatomy, Oxford University Press, page 29:
      In tomato, for example, the first sepal primordium is formed as an outgrowth at the periphery of the apex and the subsequent sepal primordia are initiated in a helical fashion at an angle of approximately 137° from the previous one.
  2. (history, theology) A primordial, original condition or event.
    • 1997 [1991], Alexandre Grandazzi, translated by Jane Marie Todd, The Foundation of Rome: Myth and History, →ISBN, page 33:
      It is thus vain to hope that the history of the primordia can be reduced to the progress of archeological investigation.
    • 2003, David Chidester, Salvation and Suicide: Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple, and Jonestown, 2nd edition, →ISBN, page 106:
      Attempts have been made by historians of religion to distinguish between mythic orientations in time concerned with the repetition of a primordium and those concerned with the anticipation of an eschaton.
    • 2008, Richard L. Bushman, Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction, →ISBN, page 5:
      [Joseph Smith] did not think of himself as going back to a primordium of true Christianity, as the Puritans did. In his view, there never was a golden age when religion flourished to perfection.

Translations

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Latin

Etymology

From prīmus + root of ōrdior + -ium.

Pronunciation

Noun

prīmōrdium n (genitive prīmōrdiī or prīmōrdī); second declension

  1. beginning, origin
    Synonyms: initium, prīncipium, exōrdium, orīgō, limen, rudīmentum
    Antonym: fīnis
  2. commencement

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

More information singular, plural ...

1Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).

Derived terms

Descendants

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