elementary English · revision 5924

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1440|origins=la elementarius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌel.ɪˈmen.tər.i/, US /ˌel.əˈmen.t̬ɚ.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English elementare, [[bor|la|elementārius|t=belonging to the elements or rudiments]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) perhaps also through Middle French élémentaire,^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|elementum|t=principle, rudiment]] (see [[element]]).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Having the nature of the four elements, earth, air, fire and water: the late 14th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) composed of the elements, material, about 1440 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Rudimentary, involving first principles, is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline) and simple from the 1620s.^(Etymonline) The NODE dates the current senses from the mid-16th century.^(NODE 1998) Relating to the great forces of nature is from 1739.^(OED 1989) The elementary school (1841) has the rudimentary sense.^(Etymonline) ''Elementary particles'' in physics are subatomic particles not known to be made of smaller ones.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1440 – composed of the four elements.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1540s – rudimentary.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1620s – simple.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1739 – of the forces of nature.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1841 – elementary school.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Simple and easy; [[basic]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Dealing with the first principles of a subject; [[introductory]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to an elementary school or the first years of education.^(AHD)

+ # ''(physics)'' Not made of smaller parts: ''an elementary particle''.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[elementarily]]

+ * [[elementariness]]

+ * [[nonelementary]]

+ * [[postelementary]]

+ * [[superelementary]]

+ * [[unelementary]]

+ * [[elementary charge]]

+ * [[elementary function]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[element]]

+ * [[elemental]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}