pristine
adjective
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When pristine was anglicized in the 16th century, people borrowed the meanings of "early" and "original" from the Latin word pristinus and applied those meanings to what is desirable as well as to what is not. But it has long been a tendency of civilized people to admire a simpler and unsullied past. The supposition is that when things were in their oldest or original state, they were better. Thus, pristine was extended to describe the notion of an unspoiled, uncorrupted, or unpolluted state. And what is unspoiled or uncontaminated may connote the freshness and cleanness of something that has just been made, which explains how pristine has also come to mean "fresh and clean."
Examples of pristine in a Sentence
Sara Dorn, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Here are 11 destinations where the holiday season meets pristine powder, making for one perfect ski getaway.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024
This set from Tuft & Needle looks crisp and pristine, but can keep you cool all night long.
—Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2024
The pristine 400-acre community, located on the easternmost portion of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, offers multi-million residences to purchase, as well as rental options for those seeking an exclusive vacation.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Pristine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pristine. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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pristine
adjective
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