primórdios

Primórdios is the plural form of primórdio and is used in Portuguese to denote the earliest times or beginnings of something. The term derives from Latin primordium, indicating the first thing or origin. In everyday and scholarly language, primórdios refer to the initial period of a process, period, culture, technology, or organization, often contrasted with its later development. Phrases such as “nos primórdios do século XX” or “nos primórdios da internet” are common in historical, journalistic, and scientific discourse, signaling a focus on origins rather than current state.

The sense conveyed by primórdios emphasizes origin and onset, rather than duration or progress. It is typically employed in temporal expressions to frame discussions about beginnings, events, or practices: “os primórdios da literatura brasileira”, “os primórdios da astronomia”, “os primórdios da Medicina”.

In biology and related sciences, the term can appear in contexts describing early developmental stages, though this usage is more specialized and frequently appears as “primórdios de um órgão” or in reference to primordial structures.

Related terms include primórdio (singular), which denotes a single origin or initial form, and primordial, an adjective meaning fundamental or early in origin. In encyclopedic writing, primórdios are treated as a way to anchor discussions in historical time, offering a baseline from which to examine processes, cultures, or technologies.