Word Study
elemental
CIDE DICTIONARY
elemental, a.
- Pertaining to the elements, first principles, and primary ingredients, or to the four supposed elements of the material world; as, elemental air. Pope. [1913 Webster]
- Pertaining to rudiments or first principles; rudimentary; elementary. Cawthorn. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
elemental, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 of the four elements.
2 of the powers of nature (elemental worship).
3 comparable to a force of nature (elemental grandeur; elemental tumult).
4 uncompounded (elemental oxygen).
5 essential.
--n. an entity or force thought to be physically manifested by occult means.
--adj.
1 of the four elements.
2 of the powers of nature (elemental worship).
3 comparable to a force of nature (elemental grandeur; elemental tumult).
4 uncompounded (elemental oxygen).
5 essential.
--n. an entity or force thought to be physically manifested by occult means.
Derivative
elementalism n. (in senses 1, 2).
Etymology
med.L elementalis (as ELEMENT)
THESAURUS
elemental
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