primordium

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   An aggregation of cells that is the first stage in the development of an organ.

   • In tomato, for example, the first sepal primordium is formed as an outgrowth at the periphery of the apex and the subsequent sepal primordia are initiated in a helical fashion at an angle of approximately 137° from the previous one.
2. 2

   A primordial, original condition or event.

   • It is thus vain to hope that the history of the primordia can be reduced to the progress of archeological investigation.
   • Attempts have been made by historians of religion to distinguish between mythic orientations in time concerned with the repetition of a primordium and those concerned with the anticipation of an eschaton.
   • [Joseph Smith] did not think of himself as going back to a primordium of true Christianity, as the Puritans did. In his view, there never was a golden age when religion flourished to perfection.

The neighborhood

• neighborexord
• neighborexordium
• neighborprimordial