premedieval

or pre·me·di·ae·val

[ pree-mee-dee-ee-vuhl, -med-ee-, -mid-ee-, pree-mee-dee-, pree-med-ee-, -mid-ee-, pree-mid-ee-vuhl ]

adjective

1. prior to the Middle Ages.

Word History and Origins

Origin of premedieval¹

First recorded in 1855–60; pre- + medieval

Example Sentences

The state of Israel is an island of Western culture, freedom and law in a morass of premedieval hate.

From Time Magazine Archive