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prehistoric

prehistoric

47 5.2
From the time before people wrote things down
  • adjective
  • /ˌpriːhɪˈstɔrɪk/
translation icon : prehistórico
  • Archaeologists discovered prehistoric tools that were used by ancient humans thousands of years ago.
  • prehistoric times
  • prehistoric sites
  • prehistoric people

Casual sexuality was the norm for our prehistoric ancestors.

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Examples

  • So going back to our prehistoric ancestors on the savannahs of East Africa, they were living in small groups.

  • Nevertheless, evidence of several types of dams dating to prehistoric times does exist in Mesoamerica.

    Academic text (1995)
  • OK, prehistoric men and women were less divided than we thought.

  • Any more of these prehistoric creatures coming through that door?

  • ...10 examine prehistoric art forms, hundreds of thousands of years old.

  • A throwback to the prehistoric age.

  • The site contains one of the most impressive prehistoric stone monuments found in Africa.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Etowah River is a monument of a great prehistoric North American culture.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Meanwhile, scientists say a prehistoric lion cub discovered in Siberia is the best preserved Ice Age animal ever found.

  • However, all the prehistoric remains we have yet to discover in permafrost are at risk, along with much more, because permafrost is thawing rapidly.

Synonyms

ancient
vsprehistoric
3.4

Very old and from a long time ago

is limited to the time before written records rather than all old periods
prehistorical
vsprehistoric
1 6.9

A time before people wrote things down

is identical in meaning but is an alternative form used in writing

Compounds

A time in human history before people wrote things

How Old

primeval
11 8.8
prehistoric
47 5.2
ancient
3.4
old
1.0

Surface Forms

prehistoric positive

Morphology

prehistoric = historic (semi-transparent) = pre + histor + ic

The prefix 'pre-' clearly means 'before', but deriving the specific sense 'before written history' from everyday 'historic' is not fully straightforward for many learners.

Etymology

Prehistoric comes from pre- ('before') and historic ('written history'). So it refers to times, places, or animals from the long period before people wrote things down.