Origin: 1400–50; late ME
elementare (< MF
elementaire) < L
elementārius. See element, -ary 
Related forms: el⋅e⋅men⋅ta⋅ri⋅ness, noun
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.