"primal" in the adjective sense

1. cardinal, central, fundamental, key, primal

serving as an essential component

"a cardinal rule"

"the central cause of the problem"

"an example that was fundamental to the argument"

"computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure"

2. aboriginal, primal, primeval, primaeval, primordial

having existed from the beginning in an earliest or original stage or state

"aboriginal forests"

"primal eras before the appearance of life on earth"

"the forest primeval"

"primordial matter"

"primordial forms of life"

Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)

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