[gram.mar] n [ME gramere, fr. MF gramaire, modif. of L grammatica, fr. Gk grammatike, fr. fem. of grammatikos of letters, fr. grammat-, gramma--more at gram] (14c) 1 a: the study of the classes of words, their inflections, and their functions and relations in the sentence b: a study of what is to be preferred and what avoided in inflection and syntax
2. a: the characteristic system of inflections and syntax of a language b: a system of rules that defines the grammatical structure of a language 3 a: a grammar textbook b: speech or writing evaluated according to its conformity to grammatical rules
4: the principles or rules of an art, science, or technique "a ~ of the theater" -- gram.mar.i.an n