Question

in the investigation both of the orthography and signification of words, their etymology was necessarily to be considered, and they were therefore to be divided into primitives and derivatives. a primitive word, is that which can be traced no further to any english root; thus circumspect, circumvent, circumstance, delude, concave and complicate, though compounds in the latin, are to us primitives. - preface to a dictionary of the english language, samuel johnson what is the connotation of the word primitives as it is used in the passage? neutral based on the words connotation, what is the meaning of primitives as it is used in the passage? crude words, ancient words, basic words

Explanation:

The passage defines a primitive word as one that cannot be traced further to an English root. Among the options, "basic words" best fits this description as they are fundamental and not derived from other English - based roots. The connotation is neutral as the description is simply a matter - of - fact definition.

Answer:

Based on the word’s connotation, the meaning of primitives as used in the passage is basic words.