Prehistoric

Prehistoric

Adjective · /ˌpriːhɪˈstɒrɪk/ · of, relating to, or existing in the time before written records

Definition

Prehistoric means belonging to the period of human existence before written records were kept. It describes the vast span of time from the first appearance of human ancestors through the development of stone tools, fire, agriculture, and early civilisations — everything that came before the invention of writing. The word also serves informally to describe anything that feels absurdly outdated or ancient.

Origin

Formed from the prefix pre- (Latin, meaning before) + historic (from Greek historia, meaning inquiry or knowledge from inquiry). The word was coined in the 19th century as archaeologists and geologists began systematically studying periods of human existence for which no written records existed. It first appeared in English around the 1830s and became standard in scientific and popular writing as the discipline of prehistoric archaeology developed.