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Civilized vs Primitive - What's the difference?

civilized | primitive |

As adjectives the difference between civilized and primitive

is that civilized is having a highly developed society or culture while primitive is of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first.

As a noun primitive is

an original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to {{term|derivative}}.

civilized

English

Alternative forms

* civilised (mostly British)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having a highly developed society or culture.
  • Showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement; humane, reasonable, ethical.
  • Marked by refinement in taste and manners.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=5 citation , passage=A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
       ‘Civilized ,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’}}

    See also

    * civil

    primitive

    English

    (wikipedia primitive)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to (derivative).
  • A member of a primitive society.
  • A simple-minded person.
  • (computing, programming) A data type that is built into the programming language, as opposed to more complex structures.
  • A basic geometric shape from which more complex shapes can be constructed.
  • (mathematics) A function whose derivative is a given function; an antiderivative.

    • Related terms

    * multiprimitive * prime

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first.
  • Of or pertaining to or harking back to a former time; old-fashioned; characterized by simplicity.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=4 citation , passage=By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect.}}
  • (rfc-sense) Crude, obsolete.
  • (grammar) Original; primary; radical; not derived.
  • (biology) Occurring in or characteristic of an early stage of development or evolution.

    • Derived terms

    * primitiveness

    Synonyms

    * backwards