I. |elə|ment ə l adjective
Etymology: Middle English elementall, from Medieval Latin elementalis, from Latin elementum + -alis -al
1.
a. : of, relating to, or caused by a great force of nature
elemental forces important to those engaged in a struggle with the soil — Frank Thilly
the rains come with elemental force, scourging the earth wrathfully each day — Gertrude Diamant
and over all the ancient elemental smell of the sea — Al Hine
a race against hail, cold rains, or some other elemental catastrophe — J.K.Howard
b. obsolete : material , physical
c. : representing or personifying a force of nature
the worship of elemental spirits
: of or relating to a natural force or object conceived as a supernatural power or being
elemental religion
d. : comparable to a force or object of nature (as in power or breadth) : characterized by stark simplicity, naturalness, or unrestrained or undisciplined vigor or force : not complex or refined : crude , primitive , fundamental , basic
his roughhewn elemental poetry — Key Reporter
the elemental simplicity of his mind that baffled me — Jack London
the real Highland world … is … something raw, stark, and elemental — Richard Joseph
a creature of flesh and elemental feelings — Nicola Chiaromonte
had a shrewd knowledge of all those predicaments in which elemental human nature comes to the surface — John Erskine
the smell was elemental , farmyards and manure and sweat — Laura H. Mackenzie
2.
a.
(1) : of, relating to, or being an element
(2) : consisting of a single chemical element : uncombined
elemental sulfur
(3) : of, relating to, or being the ultimate or basic constituent of anything
the elemental stuff … out of which the many forms of life have been molded — Jack London
b. : elementary , introductory , rudimentary
in the new nations they lacked elemental political and civic rights — Oscar Handlin
this elemental recital of what your Government is doing — F.D.Roosevelt
c. : forming an integral part : inherent
such self-assurance is so elemental that it is not even tinged with conceit — Albert Dasnoy
possessed an elemental sense of rhythm
• el·e·men·tal·ly - ə lē, - ə li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
1. : spirit , specter , wraith
a frightening elemental which appears as a pillar of whirling darkness — G.G.Carter
2. : an elementary concern : a first principle : rudiment — usually used in plural
sorrow, deprivation, and dread — those constant elementals among the very poor — Sylvia Berkman
not too much I can teach him … but I guess I still remember the elementals — Agnes S. Turnbull