elementary

[el-uh-men-tuh-ree, -tree] /ˌɛl əˈmɛn tə ri, -tri/
adjective
1.
pertaining to or dealing with elements, rudiments, or first principles:
an elementary grammar.
2.
of or pertaining to an elementary school:
elementary teachers.
3.
of the nature of an ultimate constituent; simple or uncompounded.
4.
pertaining to the four elements, earth, water, air, and fire, or to the great forces of nature; elemental.
5.
Chemistry. of or noting one or more elements.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English elementare (< Middle French elementaire) < Latin elementārius. See element, -ary
Related forms
elementarily
[el-uh-men-ter-uh-lee] /ˌɛl ə mɛnˈtɛr ə li/ (Show IPA), adverb
elementariness, noun
nonelementary, adjective
postelementary, adjective
preelementary, adjective
quasi-elementary, adjective
superelementary, adjective
transelementary, adjective
unelementary, adjective
Can be confused
eleemosynary, elementary (see synonym study at the current entry)
elemental, elementary.
Synonyms
1. Elementary, primary, rudimentary refer to what is basic and fundamental. Elementary refers to the introductory, simple, easy facts or parts of a subject that must necessarily be learned first in order to understand succeeding ones: elementary arithmetic. Primary may mean much the same as elementary; however, it usually emphasizes the idea of what comes first even more than that of simplicity: primary steps. Rudimentary applies to what is undeveloped or imperfect: a rudimentary form of government.
Examples from the web for elementary
  • Well, you can find that astonishing and stupendous principle in any basic micro-economic undergraduate elementary textbook.
  • Each color rod represents a different length, and they are used to help elementary students master simple addition and fractions.
  • Both trains of thought are in fact extremely simple and elementary.
  • It has power to illustrate some basic and elementary principles.
  • Challenges for parents increase as children enter elementary school.
  • The problem is that the school is not safe, even in elementary school.
  • The head of the company in charge of administering the e-rate is leaving to become an elementary school teacher.
  • The muon was the first elementary particle discovered that does not appear in ordinary atoms.
  • Dinosaurs regularly popped up during my early elementary school education.
  • The app space is overflowing with math-related apps for preschoolers and early elementary.
British Dictionary definitions for elementary

elementary

/ˌɛlɪˈmɛntərɪ; -trɪ/
adjective
1.
not difficult; simple; rudimentary
2.
of or concerned with the first principles of a subject; introductory or fundamental
3.
(maths) (of a function) having the form of an algebraic, exponential, trigonometric, or a logarithmic function, or any combination of these
4.
(chem) another word for elemental (sense 5)
Derived Forms
elementarily, adverb
elementariness, noun
Word Origin and History for elementary
adj.

late 14c., "having the nature of one of the four elements," from Middle French elementaire and directly from Latin elementarius, from elementum (see element). Meaning "rudimentary" is from 1540s; meaning "simple" is from 1620s. Elementary school is 1841.