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Primitive vs Lowly - What's the difference?

primitive | lowly |

As adjectives the difference between primitive and lowly

is that primitive is of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first while lowly is not high; not elevated in place; low.

As a noun primitive

is an original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to (derivative).

As an adverb lowly is

in a low manner; humbly; meekly; modestly.

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

    lowly

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Not high; not elevated in place; low.
  • * Dryden
    • lowly lands
  • Low in rank or social importance.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • One common right the great and lowly claims.
  • Not lofty or sublime; humble.
  • * Dryden
    • these rural poems, and their lowly strain
  • Having a low esteem of one's own worth; humble; meek; free from pride.
  • * Bible, Matthew xi. 29
    • Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a low manner; humbly; meekly; modestly.
  • *, Bk.XXI, Ch.x:
  • *:And there was none of these other knyghtes but they redde in bookes and holpe for to synge Masse, and range bellys, and dyd lowly al maner of servyce.
  • In a low condition; meanly.