rudiment

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the elementary stages of any subject (usually plural)
  2. noun the remains of a body part that was functional at an earlier stage of life

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin rudimentum (“a first attempt, a beginning”), plural rudimenta (“the elements”), from rudis (“rude”); see rude. By surface analysis, rude + -i- + -ment.

In classic literature

Synonyms

first rudiment, first principle, alphabet, ABC, ABC's, ABCs

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