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elementalis

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word elementalis

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1020–1087 Constantine the African More words from the 11th century
Ultimate origin
Latin elementum
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin elementum
French élément
Latin elementalis
English elemental
From the same root
Latin elementārius ← elementum

Forms

elementālis, -e; third declension[1][2]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin elementum + -ālis, from elementum (“element”).[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler names Constantine the African (1020–1087) among its first sources;[1] in the MLW it means made of one or more of the elements, or belonging to them, in writings on nature and philosophy.[2]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was physical: consisting of an element or of the elements.[2][4] Michael Scot says that wind is made of elemental matter, and other British writers distinguished rose water or distilled water from elemental water, water in its natural form.[4] It also came to mean primary, being the first ground of something, and basic or fundamental.[2][4] Thomas Aquinas uses it as a synonym of elementaris.[5]

Humanists kept it: Coluccio Salutati speaks of the soul entering the body through the elemental region.[6] Hungarian sermons say that a newly created star was material but not elemental.[7] English borrowed it as elemental in the late 15th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 1020–1087 – Constantine the African is among the first sources Köbler lists for it.[1]
  • 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it.[1]
  • late 15th century – English borrows it as elemental.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) Consisting of an element or the elements; belonging to the elements, elementary.[2][4][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Existing in its natural form.[4]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Primary; basic, fundamental.[2][4][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e f Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
  6. ^ Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  7. ^ Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  8. ^ Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Cite this entry

“Elementalis.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/elementalis. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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