Prehuman Meaning
/ˈpriˈhjumən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjPreceding the advent of modern humanity, Homo sapiens.
nounOne of the human-like creatures that existed before Homo sapiens.
Sentence Examples
Fossils from the prehuman era were discovered in the cave.
The book explores the world as it existed in prehuman times.
Archaeologists discovered fossils from a prehuman species.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The scientists discovered a new ____ species that lived before modern humans.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The fossil record shows evidence of ____ ancestors who walked upright over three million years ago.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- Latin hūmānus Old French umain Middle French humainbor. Middle English humayne English human English prehuman From pre- + human.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In the recently opened Anne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins, there are more than 200 casts of prehuman and human fossils and artifacts that illustrate stages in physical and behavioral evolution."
— 2007 March 9, The New York Times, “Spare Times”, in New York Times:
"They said the find also added to evidence that painted a picture of Homo erectus as the prehumans who took long evolutionary strides — figuratively and, now it seems, also literally."
— 2009 February 27, John Noble Wilford, “Prints Show a Modern Foot in Prehumans”, in New York Times:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The scientists discovered a new ____ species that lived before modern humans.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The fossil record shows evidence of ____ ancestors who walked upright over three million years ago.