In a high-level language, square root might simply be a primitive that you can use rather than you having to go over and code it.

一个高级的语言，平方根可能仅仅,只是你能使用的一个基本要素,而不是你需要去编译它。

麻省理工公开课 - 计算机科学及编程导论课程节选

A high-level language, the designer has created a much richer set of primitive things.

一个高级的语言，设计者制造了丰富的,原始要素。

麻省理工公开课 - 计算机科学及编程导论课程节选

Consider that in the late 1990s when I wrote these predictions there was no Wikipedia, no social networks, no blogs, very primitive search engines that few people used, no usable language tools, very primitive and expensive mobile phones, and so on.

FORBES: Ray Kurzweil Defends His 2009 Predictions

Thus, after noting the Estonian language's "primitive cast, " Mr. Theroux turns his attention to Lord Monboddo, an 18th-century sage who believed that apes were essentially humans without the power of speech, enjoyably esoteric information that tells us little about Estonia but a lot about Mr. Theroux's magpie mind.

WSJ: Book Review: Estonia