— elementarily /el'euh men ter"euh lee/ , adv. — elementariness , n.
/el'euh men"teuh ree, -tree/ , adj.
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. Chem. of or noting one or more elements.
[ 1400-50; late ME elementare ( elementaire ) elementarius. See ELEMENT, -ARY ]
Syn. 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.