prehistoric
UK: ˌpriːhɪˈstɒrɪk | US: ˌpriːhɪˈstɔːrɪk
adj. relating to the period before written records
adj. extremely old or outdated
The word "prehistoric" combines the prefix "pre-" (from Latin prae, meaning "before"), the root "histor" (from Greek historia, meaning "inquiry" or "record"), and the suffix "-ic" (forming adjectives). It literally means "before recorded history," reflecting the era before written documentation emerged. The term gained prominence in the 19th century alongside archaeological discoveries, emphasizing a scientific division between documented and undocumented human past.
Dinosaurs lived during prehistoric times.
The cave paintings offer a glimpse into prehistoric human life.
Some prehistoric tools were made from sharpened stones.
The museum exhibit showcases prehistoric fossils.
His ideas about technology seem almost prehistoric.