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Webster 1913 Edition
Elementary
Elˊe-men′ta-ry
,Adj.
[L.
elementarius
: cf. F. élémentaire
.] 1.
Having only one principle or constituent part; consisting of a single element; simple; uncompounded;
as, an
. elementary
substance2.
Pertaining to, or treating of, the elements, rudiments, or first principles of anything; initial; rudimental; introductory;
as, an
. elementary
treatise3.
Pertaining to one of the four elements, air, water, earth, fire.
“Some luminous and fiery impressions in the elementary region.” J. Spencer.
Definition 2024
elementary
elementary
English
Adjective
elementary (comparative more elementary, superlative most elementary)
- Relating to the basic, essential or fundamental part of something.
- Relating to an elementary school.
- (physics) Relating to a subatomic particle.
- 2012 March 1, Jeremy Bernstein, “A Palette of Particles”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 146:
- The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier.
-
- (archaic) Sublunary; not celestial; belonging to the sublunary sphere, to which the four classical elements (earth, air, fire and water) were confined; composed of or pertaining to these four elements.
Translations
relating to the basic, essential or fundamental part of something
|
relating to an elementary school
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relating to a subatomic particle
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References
- J[ohn] A. Simpson and E[dward] S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ISBN 978-0-19-861186-8.