Crossword Genius

Primitive means of communication evaluated: more than half is wasted (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mediaeval

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'primitive' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'of communication evaluated more than half is wasted' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'communication' could be 'media' (media is a kind of communication) and 'media' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'eval' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'means' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mediaeval that I've seen before include "Old-fashioned" , "out of the Dark Ages" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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